AO1

• What is Ainsworth's Strange Situation?

  Ainsworth worked with Bowlby on the development of attachment theory. She produced a method (which is still used today) to assess the strength of attachment between an infant and others. This assessment is called the 'Strange Situation'
• Aim:

  The aim was to be able to observe key attachment behaviours as a means of assessing the quality of a child's attachment to a caregiver
• Method:

  Controlled observation procedure designed to measure the security of attachment a child displays towards a caregiver. It takes place in a room with quite controlled conditions (i.e. a laboratory) with a two-way mirror through which psychologists can observe the infant's behaviour
• Procedure: Behaviours used to judge attachment (1)

  • Proximity seeking: an infant with a good attachment will stay fairly close to the caregiver
  • Exploration & secure-base behaviour: good attachment enables a child to feel confident to explore, using their caregiver as a secure base - a point of contact that will make them feel safe
• Procedure: Behaviours used to judge attachment (2)

  • Stranger anxiety: one of the signs of becoming closely attached is a display of anxiety when a stranger approaches
  • Separation anxiety: another sign of becoming attached is to protest at separation from the caregiver
  • Response to reunion with the caregiver after separation for a short period of time under controlled conditions
• Procedure: (3)

  7 episodes.

  Beginning: Child and caregiver enter an unfamiliar playroom

  1. The child is encouraged to explore - tests exploration and secure base
  2. A stranger comes in and tries to interact with the child - tests stranger anxiety
  3. Caregiver leaves the child and stranger together - tests separation and stranger anxiety
  4. Caregiver returns and stranger leaves - tests reunion behaviour and exploration/secure base
  5. Caregiver leaves child alone - tests separation anxiety
  6. Stranger returns - tests stranger anxiety
  7. Caregiver returns and is reunited with child - tests reunion behaviour
• What did Ainsworth find?

  Ainsworth identified 3 main attachment types
• What did Ainsworth find?

  Ainsworth identified 3 main attachment types.

  • Secure attachment (type B) 60-75%
  • Insecure avoidant attachment (type A) 20-25%
  • Insecure resistant attachment (type C) 3%
• Findings: (1)

  What is secure attachment?

  • These children explore happily but regularly go back to their caregiver (proximity seeking and secure base behaviour)
  • They usually show moderate separation distress and moderate stranger anxiety
  • Securely attached children require and accept comfort from the caregiver in reunion stage
• Findings: (2)

  What is insecure avoidant attachment?

  • These children explore freely but do not seek proximity or show secure base behaviour
  • They show little or no reaction when their caregiver leaves and they make little effort to make contact when the caregiver returns
  • They also show a little stranger anxiety. They do not require comfort at reunion stage
• Findings: (3)

  What is insecure resistant attachment?

  • These children seek greater proximity than others and so explore less
  • They show huge stranger and separation distress but they resist comfort when reunited with their carer
• Conclusion:

  Children could have one of three distinct attachment types with their primary caregiver.