Strange situation

• What is the main aim of Ainsworth's Strange Situation study?

  To see individual differences in attachment quality between infants and caregivers
• Who were the participants in the Strange Situation study?

  100 white, middle-class American infants + their mums
• How does controlled observation differ from naturalistic observation?

  Controlled observation has control over variables
• What behaviors were recorded to judge attachment in the Strange Situation?

  • Proximity seeking
  • Exploration and secure base behavior
  • Stranger anxiety
  • Separation anxiety
  • Reunion behavior
• What does proximity seeking indicate in an infant?


  An infant stays close to the caregiver with good attachment
• What does exploration and secure base behavior signify?

  Good attachment allows exploration but using the mum as a safe base
• What does stranger anxiety indicate about an infant's attachment?

  Distress when a stranger approaches
• What does separation anxiety signify in an infant?

  Distress when separated from the caregiver
• What is assessed through reunion behavior in the Strange Situation?

  How the infant greets the returning mother
• What does the Strange Situation assess regarding child behavior?

  Responses to separations and reunions
• What are the processes in the strange situation?

  1. Mother and child enter the play room
  2. The child is encouraged to explore
  3. Stranger enters and attempts to interact
  4. Mother leaves while stranger is present
  5. Mother enters and stranger leaves leaves
  6. Mother leaves
  7. Stranger returns
  8. Mother returns and interacts with child
• What were the results of insecure avoidant?

  • 15% of babies displayed this
  • They did not display secure base as they didn’t check for mother
  • They didn’t experience separation or stranger anxiety
  • They were unfussed when the mother returned
• What were the results of securely attached?

  • 70% of babies displayed this
  • They did display a secure base
  • They did experience stranger and separation anxiety
  • They were happy when the mother returned
• What were the results of insecure resistant?

  • 15% of babies displayed this
  • They don’t display a secure base (they’re clingy)
  • They experienced high levels of stranger and separation anxiety
  • They were angry and sad when the mother returned