The Strange Situation

• Ainsworth's strange situation aims to test:

  1. proximity seeking
  2. exploration & secure base behaviour
  3. separation anxiety
  4. response to reunion
  5. stranger-anxiety
• Ainsworth identified 3 types of attachment from her research:

  • Type A: insecure avoidant- 'I don't care' - (20-25%)
  • Type B: secure attachment - 'I trust you' - (60-75%)
  • Type C: insecure resistant - 'I don't trust you' (3%)