Ainsoworth strange situation

• Strange situation (1969)

  Developed by Mary Ainsworth and Silvia Bell
• Aim

  To observe key attachment behvaiour and asses quality
• Procedure

  Controlled observation (Laboratory)

  Two way mirror for psychologist to assess :

  • Proximity seeking
  • Exploration and secure based behavior
  • Stranger anxiety
  • Separation anxiety
  • Response to reunion
• Procedure

  Beginning - Caregiver and baby enter an unfamiliar playroom

  1. Baby encouraged to explore
  2. Stranger comes in, talks to caregiver, approaches baby
  3. Caregiver leaves
  4. Caregiver returns and stranger leaves
  5. Caregiver leaves baby alone
  6. Stranger returns
  7. Caregiver reunited
• Secure avoidant (B)

  • Explore happily but go back to their caregiver
  • Show moderate separation stress and stranger anxiety
  • Require and accept comfort from caregiver upon reunion
  • 60 - 70% brittish babies
• Insecure avoidant (Type A)

  • Explore freely, dont seek proximity
  • No reaction to seperation stress and stranger anxiety
  • Dont require/ avoid comfort upon reunion
  • 20 - 25% Brittish babies
• Insecure Resistant (C)

  • Seek greater proximity and explore less
  • High levels of stranger anxiety and separation distress
  • Resist comfort unpon reunion
  • 3% of British babies
• EVALUATION - strength - Real world application

  • Study showed type b tend to have better outcomes than other types e.g less bullying involvement
  • Study showed type B tend to have better mental health
  • Proof it measures something real

  COUNTERPOINT

  • Kagan (1982) suggests that genetically influence anxiety levels can lead to variations in attachment in the strange situation
  • So may not actually measure attatchment
• EVALUATION - Strength - Good reliability

  Johanna Bick et al (2012)

  • Tested inter rater reliability and agreed on 94% of cases
  • This may be due to the controlled conditions and behaviours assessed require large movments
• EVALUATION - Weakness - culture bias


  • Developed in Brittan and the USA
  • Studies in Japan showed a disproportionate number being classified as type C
  • Due to different parenting styles as mother baby separation is rare