Ainsworth's Strange Situation

• 1) Type A attachment


  insecure avoidant attachment (20-25%) - these children explore freely but do not seek proximity or show secure base behaviour. They have little/no reaction when their care giver leaves and does not seek contact when caregiver returns. They show little stranger anxiety. They do not require comfort during reunion.
• type b attachment


  explore happily but regularly go back to their caregiver (proximity seeking and secure base behaviour)

  Show moderate stranger and separation anxiety. they require and accept comport in reunion stage
• type c attachment

  resistant attachment (3% of British toddlers)-seek greater proximity and so explore less. Huge stranger and separation anxiety but resist comfort when reunited with their carer.
• proximity seeking


  an infant with a good attachment will stay close to the care giver
• Exploration and secure base behaviour

  good attachment enable child to feel comfortable to explore, using their care giver as a secure base it a point of contact that will make them feel safe
• Stanger anxiety

  if closely attached child will show anxiety when stranger approaches
• Separation anxiety


  sign of becoming attached is to protest at separation from the caregiver
• Ainsworth's strange situation


  Controlled observation procedure designed to measure the security of attachment a child displays towards a caregiver. It takes pace in controlled conditions (i.e. laboratory) and with a two way mirror through with the psychologists can research the child's behaviour. they looked for separation/stranger anxiety, exploration and secure base, proximity seeking and response to reunion

  
• Ainsworth's strange situation evaluation


  +increased reliability as there is inter-rater-reliability

  +validity of these concepts as it can explain subsequent outcomes

  -may be measuring temperament

  -it is culture bound

  -does not include all types of attachment eg disinhibited ( treat strangers and familiar people the same) and disorganised attachment