Ainsworth strange situation

• 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 ?

  1. Proximity seeking behaviour
  2. secure base/ exploration
  3. stranger anxiety
  4. seperatiom anxiety
  5. 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 ?

  1. Secure
  2. insecure resistant
  3. 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 ?

  1. Culture bound
  2. other categories
  3. 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