A-Level Psychology (Edexcel) – Ainsworth’s work on attachment

7.2 - Ainsworth’s Work on Attachment

4 min

Introduction to attachment and the Strange Situation

Mary Ainsworth developed the Strange Situation procedure to assess the quality of an attachment bond in infants. This method places a baby in a situation of mild stress to encourage comfort-seeking and of novelty to encourage exploration behaviour. Comfort-seeking and exploration behaviours serve as key indicators of attachment quality, helping to classify different attachment styles. It is a method of controlled observation.

Method of the Strange Situation

The Strange Situation is a controlled observation method designed to evaluate infant attachment. It involves observing infants with their mothers during a set of predetermined activities.

Key behaviours observed

During the Strange Situation, observers recorded specific behaviours, which help determine the quality of the attachment.

Observed behaviours and their significance

Separation anxiety - The level of distress or unease shown by the infant when the mother leaves the room.
Willingness to explore - The extent to which the infant engages with the toys and unfamiliar environment when the mother is present.
Stranger anxiety - The infant's response to the stranger's presence, such as avoidance or distress.
Reunion behaviour - How the infant greets and interacts with the mother upon her return.

Results: The three attachment types

Based on observations from the Strange Situation, Ainsworth and Bell classified infants into three main attachment types.

Table of attachment types

Attachment type	Percentage in sample	Key characteristics	Maternal style
Type B: Securely attached	66%	Infants tended to explore the unfamiliar room when mother is present, were subdued when she leaves, and greeted her positively on return. They showed some wariness of the stranger but were friendly when mother was present.	Sensitive.
Type A: Avoidant-insecure	22%	Infants showed little interaction with mother during exploration, appeared unconcerned by her absence, and displayed minimal interest or avoidance upon her return. They showed little stranger anxiety, treating the stranger similarly to the mother.	Sometimes ignoring or rejecting the infant.
Type C: Resistant-insecure	12%	Infants exhibit intense distress during mother's absence and showed ambivalent behavior on reunion, both seeking and resisting contact with her. They showed high stranger anxiety and were very wary of the stranger.	Ambivalent or inconsistent in responses.

Introduction to attachment and the Strange Situation

Key behaviours observed

During the Strange Situation, observers recorded specific behaviours, which help determine the quality of the attachment.

Observed behaviours and their significance

Separation anxiety - The level of distress or unease shown by the infant when the mother leaves the room.

Willingness to explore - The extent to which the infant engages with the toys and unfamiliar environment when the mother is present.

Stranger anxiety - The infant's response to the stranger's presence, such as avoidance or distress.

Reunion behaviour - How the infant greets and interacts with the mother upon her return.

Results: The three attachment types

Based on observations from the Strange Situation, Ainsworth and Bell classified infants into three main attachment types.

Table of attachment types

Attachment type	Percentage in sample	Key characteristics	Maternal style
Type B: Securely attached	66%	Infants tended to explore the unfamiliar room when mother is present, were subdued when she leaves, and greeted her positively on return. They showed some wariness of the stranger but were friendly when mother was present.	Sensitive.
Type A: Avoidant-insecure	22%	Infants showed little interaction with mother during exploration, appeared unconcerned by her absence, and displayed minimal interest or avoidance upon her return. They showed little stranger anxiety, treating the stranger similarly to the mother.	Sometimes ignoring or rejecting the infant.
Type C: Resistant-insecure	12%	Infants exhibit intense distress during mother's absence and showed ambivalent behavior on reunion, both seeking and resisting contact with her. They showed high stranger anxiety and were very wary of the stranger.	Ambivalent or inconsistent in responses.