Strange situation- Ainsworth

• AIM; to see how infants aged between 9-18 months behave under conditions of mild stress and novelty

  PROCEDURE; controlled observation, child and the mother were observed interacting in 8 different scenarios, lab study using a 2 way mirror
• PROCEDURE SUMMARY- 8 EPISODES

  • mother, baby, and experimenter
  • mother and baby
  • stranger joins the mother and baby
  • mother leaves baby and stranger alone
  • mother returns and stranger leaves
  • mother leaves, infant left alone
  • stranger returns
  • mother returns and stranger leaves
• MAIN BEHAVIOURS OBSERVED

  1. EXPLORATION BEHAVIOUR
  2. PROXIMITY SEEKING
  3. STRANGER ANXIETY
  4. SEPARATION ANXIETY
  5. REUNION BEHAVIOUR
• EXPLORATION BEHAVIOUR= willingness to explore unfamiliar environments
• PROXIMITY SEEKING= exploring but checking where primary caregiver is
• STRANGER ANXIETY= distrust in unfamiliar adults usually categorised by tears
• SEPARATION ANXIETY= fear of being separated from primary caregiver, categorised by tears
• REUNION BEHAVIOUR= behaviour when primary caregiver returns
• FINDINGS

  • secure attachment- type b
  • insecure-avoidant attachment- type a
  • insecure-resistant attachment- type c