AO1

• Ainsworth conducted the strange situation, investigating how infants behaved in stress-inducing environments such as stranger fear and separation anxiety.
• Strange Situation: Method

  Ainsworth conducted a structured observation of children aged 12 to 18 months from 106 American middle class families. There were eight, 3 minute stages which measured attachment and observed infants behaviour.
• Strange Situation: Stages

  1. Stage 1: Mother and infant enter unfamiliar room

  2. Stage 2: Mother sits down, infant encouraged to explore

  3. Stage 3: Stranger enters, tries to play with infant

  4. Stage 4: Mother leaves, stranger tries to play

  5. Stage 5: Mother returns, stranger leaves

  6. Stage 6: Mother leaves

  7. Stage 7: Stranger returns

  8. Stage 8: Mother returns, tries to interact with child
• The stages measured exploration, secure base behaviour, stranger anxiety, separation anxiety and response to reunion
• Strange Situation: Findings

  From the research, Ainsworth outlined 3 types of attachment:

  • Secure: 70%
  • Insecure resistant: 15%
  • Insecure avoidant: 15%
• Secure Attachment


  Infants with a secure attachment were distressed when parent left and showed indifference to stranger when the parent was there and ignored the stranger when the parent left. Positive response to reunion.
• Insecure Resistant


  Infants with an insecure resistant attachment were distressed when the parent left and were not easily soothed when they returned as they sought and rejected comfort. The parent was inconsistent, either over-sensitive or angry or rejecting. The infant displayed stranger anxiety whether or not the parent was present.
• Insecure Avoidant


  Infants with insecure avoidant attachment showed no indifference when parent left and displayed no stranger anxiety. When the parent returned, the infant avoided eye contact and the parent typically ignored the child whilst playing.