Strange Situation

Strange Situation

1. Mary Ainsworth's aim was to be able to observe key behaviours as a means of assessing the quality of a child's attachment to a caregiver.

   • Proximity seeking, separation anxiety, stranger anxiety, exploration, response to reunion

2. 7 episodes: encouraged to explore, stranger tries to interact, caregiver leaves, caregiver returns and stranger leaves, caregiver leaves, stranger returns, caregiver returns

3. Ainsworth et al - found 3 types of attachment

   • Secure attachment - happy to explore but proximity seeks, moderate stranger and separation anxiety, require and accept comfort at reunion
   • Insecure-avoidant - happily explore but do not proximity seek, little or no reaction to separation or strangers, do not require comfort at reunion
   • Insecure-resistant - explore less and proximity seek more, high distress at separation and strangers, resist comfort at reunion

4. Good reliability - Bick et al. - agreement on 94% of those tested

5. Culture bound - childhood experiences makes children respond differently and caregiver behaviour differs in Strange situation