Ainsworth's Strange Situation

• (AO1) Define the ainsworth's strange situation (1971)

  Is a controlled, observational method for testing the strength of attachment between a caregiver and an infant.
• (AO1) State her methods?

  Conducted in a lab setting. Ainsworth's trained observers observed how the infants behaved through a 1 way mirror during a set of 8 scenarios, each lasting roughly 20 minutes. Observed:

  • Separation anxiety - distress when CG leaves
  • Reunion behaviour - response to CG's return
  • Exploration behaviour - willingness to explore in presence of CG
  • Stranger anxiety - response to unfamiliar adults
• (AO1) Give the results of Ainsworth's study

  Results = Discovered that the infants displayed different attachment styles:

  • 22% showed type A = Insecure - avoidant
  • 66% showed type B = Secure
  • 12% showed type C = Insecure - resistant
• (AO1) Describe how 22% of the infants showed insecure - avoidant

  Exploration = infant explores unfamiliar environments, but does not return to mother (safe-base) (does not check in with mother)

  
  

  Seperation anxiety = low, not concerned by the mother's departure

  
  

  Stranger anxiety = low, not concerned about stranger, showed little preference between mother and stranger

  
  

  Reunion behaviour = little reaction/joy upon reunion of mother, ignores her, not seeking proximity, avoids intimacy.
• (AO1) Describe how 66% of the infants showed secure

  Exploration = explores unfamiliar enviornments, returns to mother regularly, using her as a safe-base (checks in with her)

  
  

  Seperation anxiety = moderate, the infant's play is seriously disrupted when the mother leaves (can cry)

  
  

  Stranger anxiety = moderate, infant is wary of strangers, will move closer to mother when she is there also with stranger (can cry)

  
  

  Reunion behaviour = pleased to see mother, seeks proximity, easily comforted by her presence, joy upon reunion
• (AO1) Describe how 12% of the infants showed insecure - resistant

  Exploration = does not explore, stays close to mother (clingy) (self-soothes)

  
  

  Seperation anxiety = high, extremely distressed/violent when mother leaves

  
  

  Stranger anxiety = high, extremely distressed when stranger goes to comfort them

  
  

  Reunion behaviour = not easily comforted by mother, seeks but rejects/resists attempt of mother's comfort on reunion
• (AO3) Give a limitation of the stranger situation

  Point: Lacks ecological validity

  
  

  Evidence: Conducted observations in controlled, artificial setting, unfamiliar to both parents & infants. The children may have acted differently to how they would in a more familiar environment e.g. at home.

  
  

  Evaluate: Unsure as to whether the behaviours displayed by the children would have been the same if conducted in a familiar environment, making Ainsworth's findings less externally valid.
• (AO3) Give a strength of the stranger situation

  Point: High reliability

  
  

  Evidence: Observations took place under strict/controlled methods (including video recording) using predetermined behavioural categories. High inter - observer reliability = 94% of agreement on attachment classifications was ensured as she had several observers watching & coding the same infant behaviours.

  
  

  Evaluate: Findings are considered more meaningful.
• (AO3) Give a limitation of the stranger situation

  Point: The classification system of attachment types is incomplete.

  
  

  Evidence: Main and Solomon (1986) conducted subsequent research whereby they analysed several hundred strange situation episodes via videotape. They suggested that Ainsworth overlooked a 4th type, in which some infants showed inconsistent patterns of behaviour, which they termed = Type D: Insecure-disorganised = when ppl show all traits. This more helpful as most ppl's behaviour is not consistent.

  
  

  FURTHER SUPPORT: From a meta - analysis of studies from the US conducted by Van Ijzendoorn et al (1999), found that 15% of infants were classified as Type D.