Ainsworth strange situation

• AO1


  Assessment Objective 1
• The strange situation


  • Controlled observation
  • Participants were observed (from an adjoining room through a one-way mirror)
  • Around 100 middle-class American infants and their mothers took part
  • Children were between 12-18 months
  • Observation had seven 'episodes', each lasting three minutes involving the mother leaving and the stranger coming in
  • Observers took notes every 15 seconds and classified infants into three attachment types based on their behaviour
• Attachment types


  • Secure attachments (70% of infants)
  • Insecure-avoidant attachments (15% of infants)
  • Insecure-resistant attachments (15% of infants)
• Secure attachments


  Showed moderate levels of stranger anxiety, moderate levels of separation anxiety, and enthusiasm upon mother's return
• Insecure-avoidant attachments


  Showed low levels of stranger anxiety, low levels of separation anxiety, and little reaction upon mother's return
• Insecure-resistant attachments


  Showed high stranger anxiety and high separation anxiety, and resisted comfort by pushing the mother away upon arrival