The strange situation

• What are the different attachment styles examined in the strange situation?

  • Secure
  • Insecure-resistant
  • Insecure-avoidant
• What was the sample in the strange situation?

  106 infants aged 16-18 months and their mothers from middle-class American families
• What was the procedure of the strange situation?

  • Mother and infant observed interacting through one way mirror
  • Filmed observation
  • Multiple observers
  • Used behavioural categories

  1. Proximity seeking

  • How close infant stayed to mother

  2. Exploration and secure base

  • Confidence exploring environment, whether mother used as contact point of safety

  3. Stranger anxiety

  • How they react in presence of a stranger

  4. Separation anxiety

  • How they react to mother leaving the room

  5. Response to reunion

  • How they react to caregiver returning to room
• What are the findings of strange situation?

  Secure - type B

  • 60-75% British toddlers
  • Most desirable attachment style

  Insecure resistant - type C

  • 3% British toddlers
  • High anxiety and strong attachment

  Insecure avoidant - type A

  • 20-25% British toddlers
  • Low anxiety and weak attachments
• Give two strengths and two limitations of the strange situation

  STRENGTHS:

  • High level of inter-rater reliability
  • Attachment styles show high predictive validity

  LIMITATIONS:

  • Suggested there are more than 3 types of attachment
  • Ethnocentric
• Who was the strange situation proposed by?

  Ainsworth
• What are the key features of insecure-resistant attachment?

  • Extremely distressed by separation
  • Stranger anxiety
  • seek contact when reunited with mother but reject her (cannot be soothed)
• What are key features of insecure-avoidant attachment?

  • Low separation anxiety
  • Low stranger anxiety
  • Do not make contact when reunited with mother