Ainsworths strange situation

• Mary Ainsworth developed the strange situation to assess the quality of a child’s attachment to a caregiver. The strange situation was used to assess the infant’s attachment types.
• Procedure

  Ainsworth used a controlled observation procedure in a lab with a two-way mirror where psychologists can observe infants’ behaviour.
• Procedure

  Ainsworth used a controlled observation procedure in a lab with a two-way mirror where psychologists can observe infants’ behaviour.
• Participants: 100 middle-class American infants and their mothers Ainsworth assessed the quality of attachment based on how the infant responds to separation anxiety, stranger anxiety, response reunion, proximity seeking.
• Separation anxiety was tested by how distressed the child was when separated by parent
• Stranger anxiety how distressed infants were when the child was with a stranger. Displayed by well attached infants
• Response reunion was showed by how the child responds to mom when returned after leaving . Well attached infants are enthusiastic
• Proximity seeking a baby with a good quality attachment would stay close to mom. Well attached infants stay close to the caregiver.
• Secure base behaviour is how willing the child is to go off and play independently and how often they return to the caregiver as a secure base
• Procedure

  The procedure of Mary Ainsworth’s Strange Situation study involved seven episodes, each lasting approximately three minutes. In the first episode, the child was encouraged to explore the room by the caregiver, assessing exploration and secure base behaviour. Next, a stranger entered and talked to the caregiver, testing the child’s response to stranger anxiety.
• The caregiver then left the room, leaving the child with the stranger to evaluate both separation and stranger anxiety. In the fourth episode, the caregiver returned and the stranger left, testing reunion behaviour and the child’s return to exploration. Following this, the caregiver left the child alone in the room, testing separation anxiety. The stranger then re-entered, again testing stranger anxiety. Finally, the caregiver returned to reunite with the child, assessing reunion behaviour.
• Findings – 66% showed secure attachment 22% insecure-avoidant 12% insecure-resistant The findings of the study provided 3 distinct attachments types which correlated with the level of sensitive responsiveness with the parent. This suggests that secure attachment develops due to the attention of a sensitive responsive mother.
• From the study Mary Ainsworth identified 3 different types of attachment
• Type A – insecure avoidant attachment 15% of British babies Here the child explores freely but does not seek the mother as a secure base showing little to no separation anxiety . Infants show little interest and does not require comfort at reunion stage and stranger anxiety stage they show little no reaction to stranger and plays normally with the stranger at separation anxiety stage infants show little no distress when mothers leave and when mom returns after leaving. Mothers show little sensitive responsiveness
• Type A – insecure avoidant attachment 15% of British babies Here the child explores freely but does not seek the mother as a secure base showing little to no separation anxiety . Infants show little interest and does not require comfort at reunion stage and stranger anxiety stage they show little no reaction to stranger and plays normally with the stranger at separation anxiety stage infants show little no distress when mothers leave and when mom returns after leaving. Mothers show little sensitive responsiveness
• Type B – secure attachment 70% of British babies The child is happy to explore but seeks proximity to mother as a secure base they show moderate separation anxiety and stranger anxiety when mom leaves and accepts comfort from caregiver on reunion Mothers show sensitive responsiveness
• Type C- insecure resistant attachment 15% of British babies Shows high level of separation anxiety not willing to explore and seek greater proximity has high stranger and separation anxiety and is pleased to see mother when she returns but resists comfort from her and may show signs of anger show high levels of stranger anxiety and distress Here mothers appear inconsistent with their sensitive responsiveness