Ainsworth’s Strange Situation
Key Terms
Strange Situation- A controlled observation designed to test attachment
security. Infants are assessed on their response to playing in an
unfamiliar room, being left alone, left with a stranger and being reunited
with a caregiver.
Secure attachment- Generally thought of as the most desirable
attachment type, associated with the psychologically healthy outcomes.
In the Strange Situation this is shown by moderate stranger and
separation anxiety and ease of comfort at reunion.
Insecure-avoidant attachment- An attachment type characterised by
low anxiety but weak attachment. In the Strange Situation this is shown
by low stranger and separation anxiety and little response to reunion- an
avoidance of the caregiver.
Insecure-resistant attachment- An attachment type characterised by
strong attachment and high anxiety. In the Strange Situation this is
shown by high levels of stranger and separation anxiety and by
resistance to be comforted at reunion.
, The Strange Situation
The Strange Situation was developed by Mary Ainsworth (1969). The aim was to be able
observe key attachment behaviours as a means of assessing the quality of a child’s
attachment to a caregiver.
Procedure
The strange situation is a controlled observation procedure designed to measure the
security of attachment a child displays towards a caregiver. It takes place in a room with
quite controlled conditions (i.e., a laboratory) with a two-way mirror through which
psychologists can observe the infant’s behaviour
The behaviours used to judge attachment included:
Proximity seeking: an infant with a good attachment will stay fairly close to the
caregiver
Exploration and secure-base behaviour: good attachment enables a child to feel
confident to explore, using their caregiver as a secure base, i.e., a point of contact
that will make them feel safe.
Stranger anxiety: one of the signs of becoming closely attached is a display of
anxiety when a stranger approaches.
Separation anxiety: another sign of becoming attached is to protest at separation
from the caregiver.
Response to reunion with the caregiver after separation for a short period of time
under controlled conditions.
The procedure has 7 episodes, each of which lasts 3 minutes.
Beginning: Child and caregiver enter
unfamiliar playroom.
1. Child is encouraged to explore Tests exploration and secure base
2. A stranger comes in and tries to Tests stranger anxiety
interact with the child
3. Caregiver leaves child and stranger Tests separation and stranger anxiety
together.
4. The caregiver returns and the Tests reunion behaviour and
stranger leaves. exploration/secure base
5. Caregiver leaves child alone Test separation anxiety
6. Stranger returns Tests strange anxiety
7. Caregiver returns and is reunited Tests reunion behaviour
with the child
Key Terms
Strange Situation- A controlled observation designed to test attachment
security. Infants are assessed on their response to playing in an
unfamiliar room, being left alone, left with a stranger and being reunited
with a caregiver.
Secure attachment- Generally thought of as the most desirable
attachment type, associated with the psychologically healthy outcomes.
In the Strange Situation this is shown by moderate stranger and
separation anxiety and ease of comfort at reunion.
Insecure-avoidant attachment- An attachment type characterised by
low anxiety but weak attachment. In the Strange Situation this is shown
by low stranger and separation anxiety and little response to reunion- an
avoidance of the caregiver.
Insecure-resistant attachment- An attachment type characterised by
strong attachment and high anxiety. In the Strange Situation this is
shown by high levels of stranger and separation anxiety and by
resistance to be comforted at reunion.
, The Strange Situation
The Strange Situation was developed by Mary Ainsworth (1969). The aim was to be able
observe key attachment behaviours as a means of assessing the quality of a child’s
attachment to a caregiver.
Procedure
The strange situation is a controlled observation procedure designed to measure the
security of attachment a child displays towards a caregiver. It takes place in a room with
quite controlled conditions (i.e., a laboratory) with a two-way mirror through which
psychologists can observe the infant’s behaviour
The behaviours used to judge attachment included:
Proximity seeking: an infant with a good attachment will stay fairly close to the
caregiver
Exploration and secure-base behaviour: good attachment enables a child to feel
confident to explore, using their caregiver as a secure base, i.e., a point of contact
that will make them feel safe.
Stranger anxiety: one of the signs of becoming closely attached is a display of
anxiety when a stranger approaches.
Separation anxiety: another sign of becoming attached is to protest at separation
from the caregiver.
Response to reunion with the caregiver after separation for a short period of time
under controlled conditions.
The procedure has 7 episodes, each of which lasts 3 minutes.
Beginning: Child and caregiver enter
unfamiliar playroom.
1. Child is encouraged to explore Tests exploration and secure base
2. A stranger comes in and tries to Tests stranger anxiety
interact with the child
3. Caregiver leaves child and stranger Tests separation and stranger anxiety
together.
4. The caregiver returns and the Tests reunion behaviour and
stranger leaves. exploration/secure base
5. Caregiver leaves child alone Test separation anxiety
6. Stranger returns Tests strange anxiety
7. Caregiver returns and is reunited Tests reunion behaviour
with the child
