Ainsworth's Strange Situation

this is a controlled observation procedure which is designed to measure the security of attachment a child displays towards a caregiver. It takes place in a room with controlled conditions with a two-way mirror in which psychologists can observe the infant’s behaviour.

what is the strange situation?

• Proximity seeking

• Exploration and secure-base behaviour

• Stranger anxiety

• Separation anxiety

• Response to reunion

what are the behaviours used to judge attachment in the strange situation?

an infant with a good attachment will stay fairly close to the caregiver

what is proximity seeking?

a good attachment enables a child to feel confident to explore and they use their caregiver as a secure base (such as a point of contact that will make them feel safe)

what is exploration and secure-base behaviour?

one of the signs of becoming closely attached is a display of anxiety when a stranger approaches

what is stranger anxiety?

another sign of becoming attached is to protest at separation from the caregiver

what is separation anxiety?

responding positively with the caregiver after separation for a short period of time under controlled conditions

what is response to reunion?

Beginning - the child and caregiver enter an unfamiliar playroom.

1. The child is encouraged to explore - tests exploration and secure base

2. A stranger comes in and tries to interact with the child - tests stranger anxiety

3. The caregiver leaves the child and stranger together - tests separation and stranger anxiety

4. The caregiver returns and the stranger leave - tests reunion behaviour and exploration/ secure base

5. The caregiver leaves the child alone - tests separation anxiety

6. The stranger returns - tests strangers anxiety

7. The caregiver returns and is reunited with the child - tests reunion behaviour

what are the 7 stages of Ainsworth’s strange situation + what do these test?

secure attachment

what is Ainsworth’s type B attachment?

insecure-avoidant attachment

what is Ainsworth’s type A attachment?

insecure-resistant

what is Ainsworth’s type C attachment?

•  Explore happily but regularly go back to their caregiver (proximity seeking & secure base)

•  Moderate stranger & separation distress

• Accept and require comfort in reunion stage

how is secure attachment (type B attachment) characterised?

• Explore freely and do not seek proximity or show secure base behaviour

• Little or no stranger or separation anxiety

• Do not require comfort at the reunion stage

how is insecure-avoidant attachment (type A attachment) characterised?

• Require greater proximity and explore less

• Severe separation and stranger anxiety 

• Resist comfort when reunited

how is insecure-resistant attachment (type C attachment) characterised?