AO1: STRANGE SITUATION

• Mary Ainsworth produced a method to assess the strength and quality of an attachment.
• The aim of her study was to observe attachment security. This was done through measuring 5 key attachment behaviours.
• The methodology used consisted of a room with controlled conditions. The room also display a two-way mirror through which psychologists could observe the infant's behaviours alongside the camera's recording observation to allow for greater thematic analysis and later peer review.
• The five behaviours measured consisted of proximity seeking (infants with good attachments will seek proximity to their caregiver), reunion behaviours (following a short separation with their caregiver) exploration and secure base behaviours (as infants with good attachments will freely explore and view their caregiver as a comfort) stranger anxiety (anxiety displayed when a stranger approaches)and seperatio anxiety (when their caregiver leaves).
• The procedure consisted of 7 episodes, lasting 3 minutes each. To begin with the infant and caregiver entered the room.
• First episode

  1. Infant is encouraged to explore room

  2. Measuring exploration + secure base behaviours and proximity seeking
• Second episode

  1. Stranger enters

  2. Talks with caregiver before approaching infant

  3. Measuring stranger anxiety
• Third episode

  1. Caregiver leaves

  2. Stranger remains

  3. Assessing stranger anxiety and separation anxiety
• Fourth episode

  1. Caregiver returns

  2. Assessing reunion behaviours and secure base behaviours
• Fifth episode

  1. Caregiver leaves

  2. Measuring separation anxiety
• Sixth episode

  1. Stranger enters

  2. Measuring stranger anxiety
• Seventh episode

  1. Stranger leaves

  2. Caregiver returns

  3. Infant is reunited with caregiver

  4. Measuring reunion behaviours
• Ainsworth then proposed 3 attachment types based on the 3 common patterns of behaviour displayed by infants during the strange situation
• These consisted of secure attachment (type b), insecure-avoidant (type a) and insecure-resistant (type c)
• What are secure attachments characterised by?

  • Moderate seperation + stranger anxiety
  • Infant will easily explore but often returns to mother (safe base + proximity seeking)
  • Infants will often require + seek comfort by caregiver following reunion
• • What are insecure-avoidant attachments characterised by?
  • Little stranger anxiety + seperation anxiety
  • willingness to explore but no proximity seeking or safe-base behaviours
  • no reaction upon reunion, will often avoid contact + comforting by caregiver
• What are insecure resistant attachments characterised by?

  
  

  • Low levels of exploration in comparison to type b and a, and clinginess to caregiver (high proximity seeking)
  • High levels of stranger + seperation anxiety
  • Resists comforting by caregiver following reunion