Describe Ainsworth’s strange situation. What does it measure? If a researcher were to study David’s and Chelsea’s reactions in Ainsworth’s strange situation, what type of observations would s/he be likely to make?

Question

What will be an ideal response?

Answer 1

Ainsworth’s strange situation measures attachment style. In this laboratory procedure a mother and baby are placed in a playroom alone. Then a stranger enters the room and interacts with the baby. After a few minutes, the mother leaves the baby alone with the stranger for a two minute time period. Later the infant is left completely alone in the playroom for a two minute time period. The infant’s behavior is observed when the mother returns. The child has a secure attachment style if the baby is happy to see his/her mother when she returns. S/he has an ambivalent attachment style if s/he is upset when the mother leaves and then seeks her out when she returns but does not seem to want to be consoled by her. The baby has an avoidant attachment style if s/he does not appear upset when the mother leaves and ignores her when she returns. The ambivalent attachment style reaction would be displayed by Chelsea and in fact, a similar reaction was found in the described zoo field trip example where the stranger approached Chelsea. The secure attachment reaction would be expected if David were placed in Ainsworth’s strange situation.