Ainsworth strange situation

• What variations exist in how young children interact with their mothers?

  Some are independent, others are clingy
• What is the focus of Mary Ainsworth's research?

  To categorize early attachment styles in infants
• What technique did Ainsworth develop to assess attachment?

  The Strange Situation
• What did Ainsworth's research find about attachment styles across cultures?

  Similarities and differences in attachment styles
• What are the key behaviors indicating an infant's attachment to their caregiver?

  • Maintaining closeness to the mother
  • Anxiety around strangers
  • Distress when separated from the mother
  • Reaction upon reunion with the mother
  • Mother's ability to interpret infant's needs
• What is the first type of attachment identified by Ainsworth?

  Insecure avoidant (Type A)
• How do infants with insecure avoidant attachment behave?

  They show detachment and low distress
• What might explain the avoidant attachment behaviors in infants?

  Lack of sensitivity from the mother
• What characterizes infants with secure attachment (Type B)?

  Confidence in exploring and moderate anxiety
• How do insecure resistant infants (Type C) behave towards their mothers?

  They show clinginess and complex emotions
• What does the behavior of insecure resistant infants reflect about their caregivers?

  Unpredictable and inconsistent responsiveness
• What are the stages of the Strange Situation designed to assess?

  • Infant's willingness to explore
  • Stranger anxiety
  • Separation anxiety
  • Reunion behavior
  • Infant's ability to cope with stress
• What is the typical setting of the Strange Situation study?

  A room with two chairs and toys
• What is observed when the mother leaves the room in the Strange Situation?

  Infant's separation anxiety is assessed
• What does the reunion behavior of the infant indicate in the Strange Situation?

  Infant's ability to seek comfort and calm down
• What percentage of infants were securely attached in Ainsworth's study?

  Approximately 66% (two-thirds)
• What is the behavior of insecure avoidant infants during the Strange Situation?

  Indifferent to mother's departure and return
• What is the rarest attachment type identified by Ainsworth?

  Insecure resistant (Type C)
• What does Ainsworth's research suggest about maternal sensitivity?

  It shapes the attachment types of infants
• What are the strengths of the Strange Situation as a research method?

  • Structured observation with controlled conditions
  • Well-defined behavior categories
  • High replicability of the study
  • Predictive validity for later outcomes
• What is a potential limitation of the Strange Situation regarding cultural context?

  It may not apply to all cultures
• What does the term "imposed etic" refer to in attachment research?

  Applying one culture's norms to all cultures
• What alternative perspective challenges Ainsworth's conclusions?

  Attachment style may reflect biological temperament
• What did Van Ijzendoorn and Kroonenberg's meta-analysis reveal about attachment styles across cultures?

  • Secure attachment is most prevalent globally
  • Insecure resistant is typically the rarest
  • Avoidant attachment is more common in Western cultures
  • Cultural differences influence attachment behaviors
• Which country had the highest percentage of avoidant infants in Van Ijzendoorn's study?

  Germany
• What was a notable finding regarding attachment in Japan and Israel?

  They had high counts of insecure resistant infants
• What does the variation within countries suggest about attachment research?

  There is significant diversity in attachment styles
• What are the limitations of Van Ijzendoorn's meta-analysis?

  • Some countries represented by one study
  • Variation within countries is larger than between
  • Small sample sizes may not represent cultures
• How has family dynamics changed since Ainsworth's original study?

  Significantly, affecting attachment patterns
• What trend did Simonelli find in modern Italian infants compared to historical data?

  Reduction in securely attached infants
• What does the dominance of secure attachment suggest about parenting?

  It may be an inherited biological drive
• What is a serious limitation of the Strange Situation regarding cultural bias?

  It assumes Western norms apply globally
• What percentage of securely attached infants was found in the UK?

  75%
• What does the term "cultural bias" imply in attachment research?

  Assuming one culture's norms are superior
• How does the sample size in Van Ijzendoorn's meta-analysis affect the findings?

  It increases confidence in overall patterns
• What is the significance of the Strange Situation's structured observation?

  It allows for controlled assessment of behaviors
• What is the main conclusion from Ainsworth's studies on attachment?

  Distinct attachment patterns exist in infants
• What does the term "secure base" refer to in attachment theory?

  The mother as a source of comfort
• How does the Strange Situation assess infant behavior?

  By varying situations and observing responses
• What is the primary focus of attachment theory?

  The bond between infants and caregivers