Ainsworth strange situation
Cards (16)
- What did ainsworth study ?types of attachment
- method ?
- controlled observation
- 9-18 month old infants
- how infants react when placed in unfamiliar setting
- Two way mirror
- monitor mother sensitivity to infants behaviour
- mildly stressful situation
- observed in 7 episodes 3 mins each
- What behaviours are observed ?
- Proximity seeking behaviour
- secure base/ exploration
- stranger anxiety
- seperatiom anxiety
- response at reunion
- Secure base ?Good attachment child will explore but regularly check in with caregiver as a secure base
- Proximity seeking ?Good attachment will stay close
- Stranger anxiety ?sign of becoming closely attached as anxious when a stranger approaches
- Separation anxiety ?protest at separation
- Response at reunion ?Seperatiom for short period
- What are the 3 types ?
- Secure
- insecure resistant
- insecure avoidant
- What does a secure attachment do ?
- explore happily
- regilarly check in
- moderate seperation anxiety
- stranger anxiety
- accept comfort at reunion
- 60-75% of brittish toddlers
- Insecure avoidant ?
- explore freely
- don’t seek proximity or secure base behaviour
- no reaction when caregiver leaves
- no effort to make contact upon return
- no stranger anxiety no comfort at reunion
- 20-25%
- Insecure resistant ?
- seek greater proximity
- explore less
- huge stranger + seperation anxiety
- resist comfort at reunion
- 3%
- Evaluation ?
- Culture bound
- other categories
- reliable
- Culture bound ?Categories less relevant in other parts of world
- Japan mothers rarely leave baby
- hard to measure reunion behaviour as mothers pick up baby straight away
- can’t accurately measure infant behaviour
- Other categories ?
- main + soloman
- found 4th category- insecure disorganised
- mix of resistant + avoidant behaviours- original study lacks validity
- Reliable ?
- standards procedure
- high control