Ainsworth’s ‘strange situation’ (types)

• Ainsworth's 'Strange Situation'


  A controlled observation procedure designed to measure the security of attachment a baby displays towards a caregiver
• Strange Situation


  • Developed by Mary Ainsworth and Silvia Bell (1970)
  • Aim was to observe key attachment behaviours to assess the quality of a baby's attachment to a caregiver
• Strange Situation procedure


  1. Caregiver and baby enter an unfamiliar playroom

  2. Baby is encouraged to explore

  3. A stranger comes in, talks to the caregiver and approaches the baby

  4. Caregiver leaves the baby and stranger together

  5. Caregiver returns and the stranger leaves

  6. Caregiver leaves the baby alone

  7. Stranger returns

  8. Caregiver returns and is reunited with the baby
• Behaviours used to judge attachment

  • Proximity-seeking
  • Exploration and secure-base behaviour
  • Stranger anxiety
  • Separation anxiety
  • Response to reunion
• Types of attachment

  • Secure attachment (Type B)
  • Insecure avoidant attachment (Type A)
  • Insecure-resistant attachment (Type C)