Ainsworth's Strange Situation

• What is the aim of Ainsworth's Strange Situation?

  To assess attachment type in infants
• What does Ainsworth's Strange Situation investigate regarding infants?

  Responses to separation, reunion, stranger anxiety, and exploration
• What type of study design was used in Ainsworth's Strange Situation?

  Controlled observation in a laboratory setting
• How many infants participated in Ainsworth's Strange Situation study?

  100 middle-class American infants
• What age range did the infants in Ainsworth's study fall into?

  12-18 months
• How many stages are there in Ainsworth's Strange Situation?

  Eight stages
• What behaviors are measured in Ainsworth's Strange Situation?

  Proximity-seeking, exploration, separation anxiety, stranger anxiety, reunion behavior
• What happens in each stage of Ainsworth's Strange Situation?

  1. Mother & infant enter: Exploration & secure base behavior
  2. Stranger enters: Stranger anxiety
  3. Mother leaves: Separation anxiety
  4. Mother returns, stranger leaves: Secure base & comfort-seeking
  5. Mother leaves (infant alone): Separation anxiety
  6. Stranger returns: Stranger anxiety
  7. Mother returns: Secure base & comfort-seeking
• What percentage of infants were classified as Secure (Type B) in Ainsworth's study?

  66%
• What are the characteristics of Secure attachment (Type B)?

  Uses mother as a secure base, moderate anxiety, happy reunion
• What percentage of infants were classified as Insecure-Avoidant (Type A)?

  22%
• What are the characteristics of Insecure-Avoidant attachment (Type A)?

  Avoids contact, low anxiety, no comfort-seeking
• What percentage of infants were classified as Insecure-Resistant (Type C)?

  12%
• What are the characteristics of Insecure-Resistant attachment (Type C)?

  Clingy, high anxiety, resists comfort
• What conclusion can be drawn from Ainsworth's study regarding secure attachment?

  It is most common and supports Bowlby’s theory
• What are the strengths of Ainsworth's Strange Situation?

  • High reliability due to controlled setting
  • Secure attachment linked to positive outcomes
  • Cross-cultural research supports universal attachment
  • Real-world applications for parenting advice
• What are the weaknesses of Ainsworth's Strange Situation?

  • Cultural bias may limit applicability
  • Low ecological validity due to lab setting
  • Not measuring attachment (Kagan's hypothesis)
  • Ethical issues with infant distress
• What was the method used by van IJzendoorn & Kroonenberg in their study?

  Meta-analysis of 32 studies across 8 countries
• How many infants were studied in van IJzendoorn & Kroonenberg's meta-analysis?

  1,990 infants
• What was the most common attachment type found across cultures in van IJzendoorn & Kroonenberg's study?

  Secure attachment
• Which country had the highest percentage of avoidant attachment in the study?

  Germany
• Which country had the highest percentage of resistant attachment in the study?

  Japan
• What conclusion can be drawn from van IJzendoorn & Kroonenberg's findings?

  Attachment is universal but influenced by caregiving
• What are the conceptual links related to Ainsworth's Strange Situation?

  • Nature vs. Nurture debate: Ainsworth supports nurture
  • Real-world applications for social workers
  • Bowlby’s Internal Working Model: Secure attachment leads to better relationships
  • Cultural differences in attachment styles
• How does Ainsworth's work relate to the Nature vs. Nurture debate?

  Ainsworth supports nurture, Kagan suggests biology
• How does Ainsworth's research help social workers?

  Identifies neglectful parenting for interventions
• What does Bowlby’s Internal Working Model suggest about securely attached infants?

  They tend to have better relationships later
• How do cultural differences affect attachment classifications?

  Independence valued in Germany, closeness in Japan