ainsworth's strange situation

• Mary Ainsworth


  - responsible for the original work on attachment types.

  - her method of assessing attachment was the strange situation

  - ainsworths classification system was secure, insecure avoidant and insecure resistent
• what was the aim of the strange situation?

  to investigate the individual differences in attachment by seeing how babies reacted in conditions of mild stress ​(created by separation from primary caregiver and the presence of a stranger)​
• how were the infants observed in the strange situation?

  - used a laboratory using structured observations of infants aged 12-18 months.

  - The infants were observed through video cameras in a purpose built play room.

  - 8 situations were observed between a mother, child and stranger.
• Series 1 of the strange situation

  - observed the mother and infant

  - the infant plays and the mother sits and reads
• series 2 of the strange situation

  - observes the mother, infant and stranger

  - the stranger enters and speaks to the mother.
• series 3 of the strange situation

  - observes the mother, infant and stranger

  - stranger tries to interact with the infant
• series 4 of the strange situation

  - observes the infant and the stranger

  - the mother leaves and the stranger comforts.
• series 5 of the strange situation

  - observes the mother and the infant

  - the mother returns and the stranger leaves
• series 6 of the strange situation

  - observes the infant

  - the mother leaves the baby alone in the room
• series 7 of the strange situation

  - observes the infant and the stranger

  - the stranger enters to play and comfort the infant
• series 8 of the strange situation

  - observes the mother and the infant

  - the mother enters and the stranger leaves
• what were they looking for in the study?

  - separation anxiety

  - stranger anxiety

  - reunion behaviour

  - willingness to explore
• separation anxiety


  the amount of distress shown when caregiver briefly leaves
• stranger anxiety


  Amount of distress shown in response to a stranger
• reunion behaviour


  Behaviour on being reunited with caregiver
• willingness to explore


  Whether the infant feels they have a 'secure base' to explore environment
• what were the findings of the strange situation?

  Ainsworth et al identified 3 main attachment types

  - Type A - insecure avoidant

  - Type B - securely attached

  - Type C - insecure resistant
• Advantages of the strange situation

  - Wartner et al (1994) conducted a study in Germany and found that 78% of children were classified in the same way at ages 1 and 6 years old

  - The strange situation is a good predictor of later development. This is a good thing because Increases validity of the different attachment types as they have different characteristics in later life. ​ Kokkinos et al (2007) found that babies assessed to have secure (T-A) attachments go on to have better outcomes in many areas, ranging from success at school to relationships in adulthood. I-R (T-C) are associated with the worst outcomes, including bullying
• disadvantages of the strange situation

  - The classification system doesn't fit all infants - For example, Main & Solomon (1986) added a fourth type 'D' attachment which was for babies who were inconsistent and clearly didn't fit Ainsworth's A, B or C

  - Ethical issues - For example, in episode 6 (which one is that?) 20% of the infants reportedly cried 'desperately', clearly showing their distress

  - Lacks ecological validity - For example, the 'playroom' environment in which the infant was interacting was both strange and unfamiliar to the infants​
• Type A – Securely attached (66%) – exploration of the strange environment using the caregiver as a secure base when present. Moderate distress when separated from the caregiver, goes to caregiver for comfort on return and easily soothed on return. Wary of the stranger, clearly prefers caregiver.
• Type B – Insecure-avoidant (22%) – do not attempt to interact with the mother when with her, no anxiety when left with stranger. On mothers return, infant makes no attempt to get close to her. Happy to explore the strange environment & do not use caregiver as a secure base.
• Type C - Insecure-Resistant (12%) – very distressed when separated from caregiver, difficult to console on reunion. Tends to resist the stranger’s attempts to interact and provide comfort. Limited exploration of the environment.
• an advantage is Easy to replicate cross-culturally. The methodology is controlled and standardised meaning it can be used in a wide range of other cultures. For example, the study has been replicated in Eastern cultures such as Japan. This is positive as the methodology is a useful tool that is easy to replicate and has demonstrated variations within and between cultures.
• Lacks ecological validity. Study was conducted in an artificial environment of a lab which may not reflect real life behaviour. For example, children may behave differently in the strange situation than they would at home and therefore may be judged inaccurately. This is a weakness because findings cannot be generalised to real-life attachment behaviours.
• Ethical issues. strange situation intends to cause mild distress to infants which may be seen as unacceptable. For example, in episode 6, 20% of the infants reportedly cried desperately showing their distress. This is problematic as it goes against the ethical code of conduct.
• classification system does not fit all infants – some infants in the strange situation showed behaviour that was inconsistent with the 3 main attachment types. Main and Solomon (1986) added a 4th attachment type – type D. this is a limitation because it suggests that the study was unsuccessful at classifying all infants.
• ethnocentric. Strange situation was developed to assess attachment types, and many researchers assume the strange situation has the same meaning for infants from other cultures as it does for American children. this is problematic as it views the world from only one cultural perspective with the belief it is normal and correct
• secure attachment (66% of sample)


  infants will use mother as secure base when exploring. infant will show moderate distress when separated from the caregiver, and is easily soothed on return. The infant will show stranger anxiety and be weary of the stranger, clearly preferring the caregiver.