Ainsworth's strange situation

Ainsworth's strange situation

Procedure

• Controlled obs procedure designed to measure the security of attachment a child displays towards a caregiver
• Takes place in room with controlled conditions with a two-way mirror
• The behs used to judge attachment included:
  • Proximity seeking: an infant with a good attachment will stay fairly close to the caregiver
  • Exploration and secure-base beh: good attachment enables a child to feel confident to explore, using their caregiver as a secure base
  • 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 seven episodes, each of which lasts three minutes:
  • 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 stranger and separation anxiety
  • 4. The caregiver returns and the stranger leaves- tests reunion beh and exploration/secure base
  • 5. The caregiver leaves the child alone- tests separation anxiety
  • 6. The stranger returns- tests stranger anxiety
  • 7. The caregiver returns and is reunited with the child- tests reunion beh

Findings

• Ainsworth…