AO1 - Ainsworth

• Who developed the strange situation study?

  Mary Ainsworth
• What was the aim of the strange situation study?

  To assess the quality of a child's attachment
• How many children were observed in the strange situation study?

  100 children
• In what setting was the strange situation study conducted?

  In a controlled laboratory setting
• What method was used to observe the children in the study?

  Through a two-way mirror
• What are the steps of the strange situation?

  1. Mother returns, stranger leaves
  2. Mother leaves, child alone with stranger
  3. Stranger enters, interacts with child
  4. Stranger attempts to comfort child
  5. Mother returns, comforts child if needed
  6. Mother leaves again, child alone
  7. Mother and child enter, child explores
• How long did the whole strange situation procedure last?

  21 minutes
• How long did each step of the strange situation last?

  Three minutes each
• What behaviors were observed in children during the strange situation?

  Willingness to explore, stranger anxiety
• What are the four factors operationalized in the strange situation?

  Willingness to explore, stranger anxiety
• What does operationalisation refer to in research?

  Defining variables into measurable factors
• What indicates stranger anxiety in children?

  Staying close to the mother
• What behavior shows separation anxiety?

  Seeking out the mother when alone
• How do children typically respond to reunion with their mother?

  Seeking proximity and contact comfort
• What were the findings of Ainsworth's study regarding attachment types?

  • Secure attachments (Type B)
  • Insecure-avoidant attachments (Type A)
  • Insecure-resistant attachments (Type C)
• What are the three main types of attachments identified by Ainsworth?

  Secure, insecure-avoidant, insecure-resistant
• What are the three types of attachment styles?

  Secure, insecure avoidant, insecure resistant
• What characterizes secure attachment in infants?

  • Views caregiver as a safe base
  • High separation anxiety
  • Happy upon reunion
  • High stranger anxiety
• How do infants with secure attachment behave when separated from their caregiver?

  They display high separation anxiety
• What is the behavior of infants with secure attachment upon reunion with their caregiver?


  They are happy to be reunited
• What are the characteristics of insecure avoidant attachment?

  • Low separation anxiety
  • Low stranger anxiety
  • Indifferent reunion behavior
  • Does not see caregiver as a safe base
• How do infants with insecure avoidant attachment react to separation from their caregiver?

  They don’t care when separated
• What defines insecure resistant attachment in infants?

  • Inconsistent caregiver love
  • High separation anxiety
  • High stranger anxiety
  • Angry reunion behavior
• How do infants with insecure resistant attachment behave during reunion with their caregiver?

  They display angry reunion behavior
• What was the focus of Ainsworth's strange situation study?

  • Safe base behavior
  • Degree of stranger anxiety
  • Degree of separation anxiety
  • Reunion behavior
• What age group did Ainsworth study in her strange situation research?

  9-18 months old
• What method did Ainsworth use in her study?

  Controlled, overt, non-participant observation
• How many scripted episodes were in Ainsworth's strange situation observation?

  8 scripted episodes
• What percentage of children had secure attachments according to Ainsworth's findings?

  70%
• What attachment style did 15% of children display in Ainsworth's study?

  Insecure avoidant attachment
• What attachment style did the last 15% of children exhibit in Ainsworth's findings?

  Insecure resistant attachment
• What behavior did children with insecure resistant attachment show?

  High separation and stranger anxiety
• How did Ainsworth categorize the attachment styles observed in her study?

  Secure, insecure avoidant, insecure resistant