strange situation

    Cards (4)

    • Ainsworth conducted a controlled observation of children's attachment behaviour using 'strange situation classification'
      • sample - 100 middle class American infants and their mothers
      • judge child's reaction via two-way mirror: willingness to explore, separation anxiety, stranger anxiety, reunion behaviour
    • secure attachment (70%)
      • willing to explore - uses mother as secure base
      • upset when mother leaves (separation anxiety)
      • avoidant of stranger but friendly when mother is present (stranger anxiety)
      • positive when mother returns (reunion behaviour)
      • associated with a responsive primary caregiver
    • Insecure-avoidant
      • Willing to explore environment
      • Unconcerned (indifferent) by mother’s absence (separation anxiety)
      • Unconcerned, often avoidant of mother and stranger (stranger anxiety)
      • Unresponsive when she returned (reunion behaviour)
      Associated with an unresponsive primary caregiver
    • Insecure-resistant
      • Low willingness to explore environment.
      • Intensely distressed when mother left (separation anxiety)
      • Extreme fear of stranger (stranger anxiety)
      • Clinginess mixed with rejection on return (reunion behavior)
      Associated with inconsistent primary caregiver
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