strange situation

• What is the Strange Situation designed to test?

  Attachment security
• How are babies assessed in the Strange Situation?

  By their response to various situations
• Who developed the Strange Situation?

  Ainsworth and Bell
• What is the aim of the Strange Situation?

  To observe key attachment behaviours
• What method do psychologists use to observe babies in the Strange Situation?

  Through a 2 way mirror
• What does proximity seeking indicate in a baby?

  Quality of attachment to the caregiver
• What does secure base behaviour allow a baby to do?

  Feel confident to explore
• What is stranger anxiety?

  Anxiety when a stranger approaches
• What does separation anxiety indicate?

  Protest at separation from caregiver
• How do securely attached babies respond to reunion with their caregiver?

  With pleasure and seek comfort
• What are the seven episodes of the Strange Situation procedure?

  1. Baby encouraged to explore
  2. Stranger enters and talks to caregiver
  3. Caregiver leaves baby with stranger
  4. Caregiver returns, stranger leaves
  5. Caregiver leaves baby alone
  6. Stranger returns
  7. Caregiver returns and reunites with baby
• What percentage of British babies are classified as securely attached?

  60-75%
• How do insecure avoidant babies behave in the Strange Situation?

  Explore freely, show little reaction
• What percentage of British babies are classified as insecure avoidant?

  20-25%
• What characterizes insecure resistant attachment?

  High proximity seeking and less exploration
• What percentage of British babies are classified as insecure resistant?

  3%
• What are the strengths of the Strange Situation?

  • Predicts later development outcomes
  • Good inter-rater reliability (94% agreement)
• What do securely attached babies tend to achieve in childhood?

  Better achievement in school
• What mental health outcomes are associated with secure attachment?

  Better mental health in adulthood
• What does Kagan suggest about attachment measurement?

  Genetically influenced anxiety affects attachment
• What are the limitations of the Strange Situation?

  • May not be valid across cultures
  • Overlooks a fourth attachment type (Type D)
• Why might the Strange Situation be culture-bound?

  Different cultural experiences affect responses
• What did Takahashi find in his study of Japanese babies?

  High levels of separation anxiety
• What is Type D attachment?

  A mix of resistant and avoidant behaviours
• Who identified the fourth attachment type?

  Main and Solomon