Ainsworth’s strange situation:
types of attachment
,Key study: the strange situation
● Ainsworth et al (1971, 1978)
● Strange situation used to systematically test the nature of attachment
● The aim = see how infants (aged 9-18 months) behave under
conditions of mild stress and novelty (new and unusual)
,Procedure
● Novel environment - 9x9 foot space often marked into 16 squares to
help record infant’s movements
● 8 episodes, each designed to highlight specific behaviours
● Key feature in episodes = caregiver and stranger alternately stay with
infant or leave
, Episodes (about 3 min duration) Behaviour assessed
1 Parent and infant play -
2 Parent sits while infant plays Use of parent as secure
base
3 Stranger enters and talks to parent Stranger anxiety
4 Parent leaves, infant plays, stranger Separation anxiety
offers comfort if needed
5 Parent returns, greets infant, offers Reunion behaviour
comfort if needed, stranger leaves
6 Parent leaves, infant alone Separation anxiety
7 Stranger enters and offers comfort Stranger anxiety
8 Parent returns, greets infant, offers Reunion behaviour
comfort
types of attachment
,Key study: the strange situation
● Ainsworth et al (1971, 1978)
● Strange situation used to systematically test the nature of attachment
● The aim = see how infants (aged 9-18 months) behave under
conditions of mild stress and novelty (new and unusual)
,Procedure
● Novel environment - 9x9 foot space often marked into 16 squares to
help record infant’s movements
● 8 episodes, each designed to highlight specific behaviours
● Key feature in episodes = caregiver and stranger alternately stay with
infant or leave
, Episodes (about 3 min duration) Behaviour assessed
1 Parent and infant play -
2 Parent sits while infant plays Use of parent as secure
base
3 Stranger enters and talks to parent Stranger anxiety
4 Parent leaves, infant plays, stranger Separation anxiety
offers comfort if needed
5 Parent returns, greets infant, offers Reunion behaviour
comfort if needed, stranger leaves
6 Parent leaves, infant alone Separation anxiety
7 Stranger enters and offers comfort Stranger anxiety
8 Parent returns, greets infant, offers Reunion behaviour
comfort
