Ainsworth`s 'Strange Situation'. Types of attachment: secure, insecure-avoidant and insecure-resistant

The Strange Situation (1969):

Aim: 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 (a lab) 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 (a point of contact to 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 seven episodes, each of which last three minutes:

Beginning: 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 child and stranger alone together

Tests separation and stranger anxiety

4.       The caregiver returns and the stranger leaves

Tests reunion behaviour 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…