Ainsworth's Strange Situation 1970

• What was the aim of Ainsworth's 1970 Strange Situation study?


  To observe infant attachment behaviours + identify different attachment styles
• What was the sample of Ainsworth's 1970 Strange Situation study?



  100 middle-class American infants 12-18 months old
• What was the method of Ainsworth's 1970 Strange Situation study?


  • Controlled covert observation
  • IV = different stages of observation
  • DV = infants' reactions to different stages of observation
• What was the procedure of Ainsworth's 1970 Strange Situation study?



  • Controlled observation in novel environment
  • Caregiver + child enter room with 2-way mirror + cameras = enables observation of child's behaviours
  • Child put through series of mildly stressful scenarios = security of attachment to primary caregiver can be determined
  • Exploring room
  • Being approached by stranger
  • Left alone with stranger
  • Left alone
  • Exploration, proximity seeking, reunion behaviours, stranger/separation anxiety measured -> tallied on behavioural category
• What was the findings of Ainsworth's 1970 Strange Situation study?

  Insecure-avoidant (22%):

  • Willingness to explore = high
  • Stranger anxiety = low
  • Separation anxiety = little/moderate
  • Reunion behaviour = avoids contact

  Secure (66%):

  • Willingness to explore = highest
  • Stranger anxiety = moderate
  • Separation anxiety = some
  • Reunion behaviour = enthusiastic

  Insecure-resistant (12%):

  • Willingness to explore = low
  • Stranger anxiety = high
  • Separation anxiety = immediate distress
  • Reunion behaviour = seeks PG's presence but rejects comfort offered
• What are the conclusions of Ainsworth's 1970 Strange Situation study?


  • Mother's sensitivity = key factor in deciding child's attachment type
  • Responsive mother -> infant knows they can rely on caregiver = secure attachment
  • Less responsive mother -> infant doesn't know if they can rely on caregiver = insecure-avoidant attachment
  • Unresponsive + impatient mother -> infant never knowing if their needs will be met = insecure-resistant attachment
• What were the strengths of Ainsworth's 1970 Strange Situation study?


  • Ainsworth et al. (1978) -> inter-rater reliability assessed using objective behavioural categories = inter-rated study had +0.94 correlation to original study
  • High external reliability -> Main et al. (1985) = same children tested later + still had same personality types
  • High levels of control = extraneous variables controlled = no confounding variables affecting DV = internal reliability
• What were the weaknesses of Ainsworth's 1970 Strange Situation study?


  • Potentially incomplete theory -> 'disorganised attachment' (Main + Solomon) = lowers validity
  • Lacking internal validity? -> less 'novel' = less stressful
  • Study may not have measured what it set out to
  • Unlike real life -> wouldn't usually have strangers in home/nursery + wouldn't be left alone with them
  • Not generalisable outside of lab?
  • Research = socially sensitive -> mothers may feel pressure/blame if child isn't securely attached
  • Research = outdated -> many PGs = father/both parents