What is the primary difference between Insecure-Avoidant (Type A) and Insecure-Resistant (Type C) behavior during reunion?

Type A infants actively ignore or avoid the caregiver upon their return, showing little emotional reaction. In contrast, Type C infants seek proximity but simultaneously reject comfort, often showing anger or distress toward the caregiver.

How does the behavior of a Secure (Type B) infant differ from an Insecure-Avoidant (Type A) infant regarding 'Secure Base' behavior?

A Secure infant uses the caregiver as a secure base, regularly returning to them or making eye contact while exploring. An Insecure-Avoidant infant explores the environment independently without checking back or seeking proximity to the caregiver.

Compare the levels of stranger anxiety typically observed in Secure vs. Insecure-Resistant infants.

Secure infants show moderate stranger anxiety, being wary but able to interact if the caregiver is present. Insecure-Resistant infants exhibit high levels of stranger anxiety, often becoming extremely distressed even when the caregiver is in the room.

What is a common misconception regarding the 'stress' levels of Insecure-Avoidant infants during the Strange Situation?

A common error is assuming Avoidant infants are not stressed because they appear calm. Physiological measures (like heart rate) often show they are just as distressed as other infants, but they have learned to suppress the outward expression of that stress.

Why is it incorrect to say that an Insecure-Avoidant child has 'no attachment' to their caregiver?

All infants in the Strange Situation (except in cases of extreme neglect) have an attachment; 'insecure' refers to the quality and security of that bond, not its absence. The avoidance is a specific strategy used to manage the relationship.

What mistake do students often make when describing the caregiver's role in Insecure-Resistant attachment?

Students often wrongly label the caregiver as 'abusive' or 'mean.' In reality, the hallmark of Type C caregiving is inconsistency—the caregiver is sometimes responsive and sometimes unavailable, leading to the child's uncertainty.

Define 'Proximity Seeking' within the context of Ainsworth's research.

Proximity seeking refers to the extent to which an infant tries to maintain physical closeness to the caregiver. It is a key measure used to determine the intensity and nature of the attachment bond.

What is 'Stranger Anxiety' and how is it tested in the Strange Situation?

Stranger anxiety is the distress or caution shown by an infant when approached by an unfamiliar adult. It is tested by having a stranger enter the room, first sitting quietly, then talking to the caregiver, and finally approaching the infant.

What does the term 'Reunion Behavior' refer to in attachment studies?

Reunion behavior is the infant's response to the caregiver returning after a separation. It is considered the most important indicator for classifying attachment type, as it reveals how the child uses the caregiver for emotional regulation.

Explain the 'Caregiver Sensitivity Hypothesis'.

This hypothesis states that the security of an infant's attachment is directly related to the sensitivity and responsiveness of the caregiver. Consistent, sensitive care leads to secure attachment, while insensitive or inconsistent care leads to insecure types.

Ainsworth’s ‘Strange Situation’ & Types of Attachment | AQA AS-Level Psychology

Ainsworth’s ‘Strange Situation’ & Types of Attachment

Summary

The 'Strange Situation' is a standardized observational procedure developed by Mary Ainsworth to assess the quality of the attachment relationship between an infant and their primary caregiver. By exposing infants to a series of increasingly stressful scenarios involving separations and reunions, researchers can classify attachment into three distinct patterns—Secure, Insecure-Avoidant, and Insecure-Resistant—which are largely determined by the caregiver's responsiveness and sensitivity.

1. Definition & Core Concepts

The Strange Situation is a controlled observation technique designed to measure the security of an attachment in infants aged 9 to 18 months. It takes place in a specialized playroom equipped with a two-way mirror, allowing researchers to record and analyze specific behavioral responses to controlled stressors.

The procedure focuses on four key behavioral categories: proximity seeking (the desire to be near the caregiver), exploration and secure-base behavior (the confidence to play while using the caregiver as a point of safety), stranger anxiety (distress in the presence of an unknown adult), and separation anxiety (distress when the caregiver leaves).

The ultimate goal of the observation is to determine the infant's attachment type, which serves as a psychological blueprint for how the child perceives and interacts with social relationships.

A diagram showing the cycle of the Strange Situation: starting with the infant using the caregiver as a secure base for exploration, followed by separation leading to anxiety, and concluding with reunion leading to comfort.

2. Underlying Principles: The Eight Episodes

The procedure consists of eight distinct episodes, each lasting approximately three minutes, designed to systematically increase the infant's stress levels. These stages include the introduction to the room, playing with the caregiver, the entrance of a stranger, the caregiver leaving, and the caregiver returning.

The most critical data is gathered during the reunion episodes, where the caregiver returns after a period of absence. The infant's ability to be soothed and their willingness to re-engage in play are the primary indicators of attachment security.

This methodology relies on the principle that a securely attached child will experience a manageable level of distress that is quickly resolved by the caregiver's presence, whereas insecurely attached children will show maladaptive responses.

3. Classification of Attachment Types

4. Key Distinctions

5. The Caregiver Sensitivity Hypothesis

6. Exam Strategy & Tips

Ainsworth’s ‘Strange Situation’ & Types of Attachment

Summary

1. Definition & Core Concepts

The ultimate goal of the observation is to determine the infant's attachment type, which serves as a psychological blueprint for how the child perceives and interacts with social relationships.

2. Underlying Principles: The Eight Episodes

3. Classification of Attachment Types

Type B: Secure Attachment: These infants explore happily while using the caregiver as a secure base. They show moderate separation and stranger anxiety but are easily comforted and show joy upon the caregiver's return. Approximately 66-70% of infants fall into this category.
Type A: Insecure-Avoidant: These infants explore freely but do not seek proximity or use the caregiver as a secure base. They show little to no reaction when the caregiver leaves or returns and treat the stranger similarly to the caregiver. This accounts for about 15-22% of infants.
Type C: Insecure-Resistant: These infants seek high levels of proximity and explore very little. They show intense distress during separation but, upon reunion, they may approach the caregiver only to angrily reject contact or comfort. This type is found in about 10-12% of infants.

4. Key Distinctions

The following table summarizes the behavioral differences between the three primary attachment types observed in the Strange Situation:

Feature	Secure (Type B)	Insecure-Avoidant (Type A)	Insecure-Resistant (Type C)
Exploration	High (Secure Base)	High (Independent)	Low (Clingy)
Separation Anxiety	Moderate	Low/None	High/Distressed
Stranger Anxiety	Moderate	Low	High
Reunion Behavior	Enthusiastic/Soothed	Avoids/Ignores	Seeks but Resists

The core distinction lies in the Internal Working Model the child has developed; secure children view the caregiver as reliable, avoidant children view them as indifferent, and resistant children view them as inconsistent.

5. The Caregiver Sensitivity Hypothesis

Ainsworth proposed that the primary determinant of an infant's attachment type is the sensitivity of the caregiver. Sensitive caregivers respond promptly and appropriately to the infant's needs, fostering a sense of security and trust.

In contrast, caregivers of avoidant infants often ignore the child's emotional needs or are intrusive, leading the child to learn that expressing distress is futile. Caregivers of resistant infants are often inconsistent, sometimes responsive and sometimes neglectful, leaving the child uncertain and anxious.

This hypothesis suggests that attachment is not an innate trait of the child but a reflection of the relational history between the pair.

6. Exam Strategy & Tips

Focus on Reunion: When identifying attachment types in exam scenarios, always look at the reunion behavior first. It is the most diagnostic part of the procedure; if the child is comforted, they are likely Type B; if they ignore, they are Type A; if they are angry/conflicted, they are Type C.
Avoid Value Judgments: Do not describe insecure attachments as 'bad' or 'failed.' Instead, describe them as 'maladaptive' or 'insecure' patterns resulting from specific caregiving environments.
Check the Percentages: Remember that Secure (Type B) is the 'norm' in most cultures, typically representing around two-thirds of the population. If a scenario describes a rare or extreme behavior, look toward Type C.
Terminology Precision: Ensure you distinguish between 'separation anxiety' (fear of being alone) and 'stranger anxiety' (fear of unknown people). They are distinct measures in the Strange Situation.