Mary Ainsworth - Strange Situation

• Who studied attachment behaviours in infants?

  Mary Ainsworth
• What is the setting of the Strange Situation procedure?

  Unfamiliar room
• How are observations conducted in the Strange Situation?

  Through one-way glass
• What age group were the participants in the Strange Situation?

  12-18 months old
• How many families participated in the Strange Situation study?

  100 middle-class American families
• What does proximity seeking indicate in attachment behaviour?

  Stays close to caregiver
• What does secure base behaviour refer to?

  Exploration while feeling safe
• What is separation anxiety in infants?

  Distress when separated from caregiver
• What does stranger anxiety indicate in infants?

  Distress when approached by a stranger
• What does reunion response measure in attachment behaviour?

  Reaction when reunited with caregiver
• What are the seven episodes of the Strange Situation procedure?

  1. Child encouraged to explore
  2. Stranger enters and interacts
  3. Caregiver leaves
  4. Caregiver returns, stranger leaves
  5. Caregiver leaves child alone
  6. Stranger returns
  7. Caregiver returns
• What does the first episode of the Strange Situation test?

  Secure base behaviour
• What does the second episode of the Strange Situation test?

  Stranger anxiety
• What does the third episode of the Strange Situation test?

  Separation and stranger anxiety
• What does the fourth episode of the Strange Situation test?

  Reunion and secure base behaviour
• What does the fifth episode of the Strange Situation test?

  Separation anxiety
• What does the sixth episode of the Strange Situation test?

  Stranger anxiety
• What does the seventh episode of the Strange Situation test?

  Reunion behaviour
• What are the three types of attachment identified in Ainsworth's study?

  • Type A: Insecure Avoidant (25%)
  • Type B: Secure (65%)
  • Type C: Insecure Resistant (10%)
• What characterizes Type A - Insecure Avoidant attachment?

  Does not seek contact with caregiver
• How does Type A attachment respond to separation anxiety?

  Unconcerned when caregiver leaves
• How does Type A attachment respond to stranger anxiety?

  Avoids or ignores stranger
• What is the reunion behaviour of Type A attachment?

  Ignores caregiver
• What characterizes Type B - Secure attachment?

  Uses caregiver as safe base
• How does Type B attachment respond to separation anxiety?

  Cries briefly after separation
• How does Type B attachment respond to stranger anxiety?

  Wary, seeks closeness to caregiver
• What is the reunion behaviour of Type B attachment?

  Seeks comfort, easily soothed
• What characterizes Type C - Insecure Resistant attachment?

  Wary, little exploration
• How does Type C attachment respond to separation anxiety?

  Shows extreme distress
• How does Type C attachment respond to stranger anxiety?

  Very distressed
• What is the reunion behaviour of Type C attachment?

  Ambivalent - seeks/rejects comfort
• What are the strengths and limitations of Ainsworth's Strange Situation study?

  Strengths:

  • Reliable measure: Controlled, standardised, 94% agreement
  • Good predictive validity: Links attachment to later development

  
  

  Limitations:

  • Lacks ecological validity: Artificial setting
  • Cultural bias: Based on Western norms