Ainsworth’s strange situation

• Who developed the Strange Situation procedure?

  Mary Ainsworth
• What is the purpose of the Strange Situation?

  To assess attachment security in infants
• What type of observation is the Strange Situation?

  Controlled observation
• How does the Strange Situation assess attachment?

  By observing infant behavior towards caregivers
• What are the key behaviors assessed in the Strange Situation?

  Proximity seeking, exploration, stranger anxiety
• What are the seven episodes of the Strange Situation procedure?

  1. Child and caregiver enter unfamiliar room
  2. Child encouraged to explore
  3. Stranger interacts with child
  4. Caregiver leaves child with stranger
  5. Caregiver returns, stranger leaves
  6. Caregiver leaves child alone
  7. Stranger returns, caregiver reunites with child
• What percentage of British toddlers are classified as securely attached?

  60-75%
• How do securely attached children behave in the Strange Situation?

  They explore happily and seek comfort
• What characterizes insecure-avoidant attachment?

  Low anxiety and weak attachment
• How do insecure-resistant children behave in the Strange Situation?

  They show high anxiety and resist comfort
• What is a potential limitation of the Strange Situation regarding cultural differences?

  It may not apply to non-Western cultures
• What did Takahashi (1990) find about the Strange Situation in Japan?

  It does not work well due to high separation anxiety
• How does Jerome Kagan's view challenge Ainsworth's attachment theory?

  He suggests temperament influences behavior more
• What is disorganized attachment?

  A mix of resistant and avoidant behaviors
• What are the three main types of attachment identified by Ainsworth?

  Secure, insecure-avoidant, insecure-resistant
• What are the key terms related to Ainsworth's Strange Situation?

  • Strange Situation: Controlled observation for attachment
  • Secure attachment: Moderate anxiety, comfort-seeking
  • Insecure-avoidant: Low anxiety, weak attachment
  • Insecure-resistant: High anxiety, resists comfort
• What does the Strange Situation measure in children?

  Responses to anxiety in unfamiliar environments
• What is the duration of each episode in the Strange Situation?

  Approximately 3 minutes
• What is the role of the trained observer in the Strange Situation?

  To observe and classify infant behavior
• How does the controlled nature of the Strange Situation contribute to its reliability?

  It allows consistent observation of behaviors
• What is the significance of the reunion stage in the Strange Situation?

  It assesses the child's response to comfort
• What is the main criticism of the Strange Situation regarding its cultural applicability?

  It may not be valid in non-Western cultures
• How does the Strange Situation relate to later social behavior?

  Secure attachment predicts better outcomes
• What does the presence of disorganized attachment suggest about Ainsworth's attachment types?

  It challenges the classification of attachment types
• What is the impact of caregiver behavior on attachment types?

  It influences the child's attachment security
• What is the main focus of the Strange Situation procedure?

  To observe attachment behaviors in infants