Strange Situation Sample

Attachment
E
The Strange Situation
PL
M
SA
www.tutor2u.net/psychology
tutor2u Full Lesson PowerPoint
E
Full Lesson PowerPoint Key
 Green = Key Word or Researcher
 Blue = Question / Discussion
PL
 Purple = Task / Activity
M
SA
This tutor2u Full Lesson PowerPoint is copyrighted and may not be reproduced or
shared without permission from the author. All images are sourced under licence
from Shutterstock and may not be reused or republished.
E
 Describe the procedure of the Strange Situation.
PL
 Describe the types of behaviour found in the Strange Situation for
secure, insecure-avoidant/resistant infants.
M
SA
E
 Task: Ainsworth’s Strange
Situation consists of 8 stages.
While watching the video sort
PL
the cards (in white) into the
order in which the 8 stages
occur. You should complete this
task in pairs.
M
SA
E
 Task: Ainsworth’s Strange
Situation consists of 8
PL
stages. While watching the
video sort the cards (in
white) into the order in
which the 8 stages occur.
M
You should complete this
task in pairs.
SA
 Question: What was the
correct order?
E
 The Strange Situation was
developed to measure
four key categories of
PL
behaviour, including:
Response to reunion
M
SA
E
 Task: Match the different categories of behaviour (on coloured cards)
with the stages of the Strange Situation. Note: Each stage might
measure more than one category of behaviour.
PL
Response to reunion
M 3 Minutes
SA
E
PL
M
SA
Response to reunion
E
PL
M
SA
Response to reunion
E
 Task: Complete the second column
of the table by writing what type
of behaviour each stage of the
PL
Strange Situation measures.
M
SA
What happens in the strange situation? What types of behaviour does
it test?
Beginning: Child and caregiver enter an unfamiliar room.
E
The caregiver sits on one of the chairs and reads a  Exploration and secure base
1
magazine. The infant is encouraged to play. behaviour
A stranger enters and tries to interact with the
PL
2  Stranger anxiety
infant
The caregiver leaves and the stranger interacts with  Separation anxiety
3
the infant.  Stranger anxiety
 Response to reunion
4
5
M
The caregiver returns and the stranger leaves.
The caregiver leaves the child alone.

 Exploration and secure base
behaviour
 Separation anxiety
SA
The stranger returns and tries to interact with the
6  Stranger anxiety
child.
7 The caregiver returns and is reunited with the child.  Response to reunion
What happens in the strange situation? What types of behaviour does
it test?
E
The caregiver sits on one of the chairs and reads a
1
magazine. The infant is encouraged to play. Extension: Ainsworth recorded
A stranger enters and tries to interact with the the behaviour of the children
PL
2
infant every 15 seconds. What type of
The caregiver leaves and the stranger interacts with sampling is this?
3
the infant. Time Sampling
4
5
M

What are the issues with
recording behaviour in this
way?
SA
The stranger returns and tries to interact with the The observed behaviour may
6 be unrepresentative of the
child.
infants actual behaviour…
7 The caregiver returns and is reunited with the child.
E
Ainsworth’s aim was to measure the security of attachment a child shows
towards their caregiver.
PL
Method: She used a controlled observation and 100 American infants (9-
18 months). Psychologists observed the child’s behaviour through a 2-way
mirror and found three patterns of attachment:
M
 Secure – (66% of sample)
 Insecure – avoidant = (22%)
 Insecure – resistant = (12%)
SA
Conclusion: Ainsworth suggested that attachment type was determined
by primary caregiver's behaviour (i.e. the mother’s behaviour).
E
 Task: While watching the video think about
how the insecure avoidant and resistant
infants behave in terms of:
PL
M
SA
E
 Task 2: Read the 11 statements at the
bottom of page 2 and then decide where
each of these statements might appear
PL
in the table on the following page. To
start with, just write the number and
NOT the full sentence.
M 10 Minutes
SA
Secure (66%) Insecure-avoidant (22%) Insecure resistant (12%)
(2) Infant explores the (6) Explores the unfamiliar

unfamiliar environment, environment but does NOT
Exploration & Secure
E
returning to the mother at return to the mother and
base behaviour
regular intervals and using does NOT use her as a safe
her as a safe base. base.
PL
(1) Medium separation (10) Low separation (9) High separation
anxiety: the infant’s play is anxiety: the infant not anxiety: extremely
Separation Anxiety
disrupted when the mother concerned by the mother’s distressed and violent
leaves. departure. when the mother leaves.
(5) Medium stranger
(11) Low stranger anxiety: (3) The infant shows ‘Hot
Stranger Anxiety M
anxiety: the infant is wary
of strangers and will move
closer to the mother when
in the presence of a
strange.
the infant is unconcerned
about strangers and shows
little preference between
the mother and stranger.
and Cold’ behaviour
towards the stranger. The
infant is unsure of how to
act.
SA
(4) Shows joy on reunion: (8) Shows no joy on (7) Not easily comforted by
Pleased to see the mother reunion: Little reaction mother and rejects (resists)
Reunion Behaviour
and is easily comforted in upon mother’s return and attempts of mother’s
her presence. often ignores her. comfort.
(2) Infant explores the (6) Explores the unfamiliar

unfamiliar environment, environment but does NOT
Exploration & Secure
E
returning to the mother at return to the mother and
base behaviour
regular intervals and using does NOT use her as a safe
her as a safe base. base.
PL
(1) Medium separation (10) Low separation (9) High separation
anxiety: the infant’s play is anxiety: the infant not anxiety: extremely
Separation Anxiety
disrupted when the mother concerned by the mother’s distressed and violent
leaves. departure. when the mother leaves.
(5) Medium stranger
(11) Low stranger anxiety: (3) The infant shows ‘Hot
Stranger Anxiety M
anxiety: the infant is wary
of strangers and will move
closer to the mother when
in the presence of a
strange.
the infant is unconcerned
about strangers and shows
little preference between
the mother and stranger.
and Cold’ behaviour
towards the stranger. The
infant is unsure of how to
act.
SA
(4) Shows joy on reunion: (8) Shows no joy on (7) Not easily comforted by
Pleased to see the mother reunion: Little reaction mother and rejects (resists)
Reunion Behaviour
and is easily comforted in upon mother’s return and attempts of mother’s
her presence. often ignores her. comfort.
Exploration & Does NOT USE

USES mother as a
E
Secure base mother as a SAFE
behaviour SAFE BASE
BASE
PL
Separation Medium Low Separation High Separation
Anxiety Separation Anxiety Anxiety Anxiety
Stranger
Anxiety
M
Medium Stranger
Anxiety
Low Stranger
Anxiety
‘Hot and Cold’
Stranger Anxiety
SA
Reunion Rejects (Resists)
Joy on Reunion No Joy on Reunion
Behaviour Mother on Reunion
E
 Task: In your groups of 4, you will each be given a particular attachment type
– Secure, insecure avoidant, insecure resistant to create a short role-play for.
PL
 Characters will include 1) Mother, 2)
Infant, 2) Stranger and 4) Narrator.
 You will rehearse and perform the

M
Strange Situation sequence for your
attachment style. Make sure you go
through ALL 8 stages and show the
appropriate behaviours.
SA
5 Minutes
E
 Task: Four groups will be randomly chosen to perform their role-play.
As you watch each performance, make a note of the attachment type
(secure, insecure avoidant and insecure resistant) and explain why.
PL
Also, make a note of any errors in their performance.
M
SA
A Level Psychology Support from tutor2u
E
tutor2u is the leading provider of support for A Level Psychology Teachers
and Students. Join our resource-sharing communities on Facebook and make
PL
full use of our resources on the free tutor2u Psychology Channel.
Facebook Groups:
 AQA Psychology Teachers
M
 Edexcel Psychology Teachers
 OCR Psychology Teachers
SA
 A Level Psychology Students
Visit the tutor2u A Level
Psychology Channel
 Task: Complete the second column of the table by writing the type of behaviour that
each stage of the Strange Situation measures.
What type(s) of behaviour
What happens in the strange situation?
is being measured?
Beginning: Child and caregiver enter an unfamiliar
room.
The caregiver sits on one of the chairs and
1 reads a magazine. The infant is
E
encouraged to play.
A stranger enters and tries to interact

2
with the infant.
3
PL
The caregiver leaves and the stranger
interacts with the infant.
The caregiver returns and the stranger

4
leaves.
M
5 The caregiver leaves the child alone.
The stranger returns and tries to interact

SA
6
with the child.
The caregiver returns and is reunited with

7
the child.
Extension: Ainsworth recorded the behaviour of the Possible answers:
children every 15 seconds. What type of sampling is this?
What are the issues with recording behaviour in this way?
© tutor2u AQA A Level Psychology Handout

Ainsworth’s Experiment
Ainsworth’s aim was to measure the security of attachment a child shows towards their
caregiver.
Method & Results: She used a controlled observation and 100 American infants (9-18
months). Psychologists observed the child’s behaviour through a 2-way mirror and found
three patterns of attachment:
 Secure – (66% of sample)
 Insecure avoidant (22%)
 Insecure resistant (12%)
E
Conclusion: Ainsworth suggested that attachment type was determined by primary
caregiver's behaviour (i.e. the mother’s behaviour).
Task 2: Read the 11 statements below and decide where each of these statements might
PL
appear in the table on the following page. To start with, just write the number in the table
and not the full sentence.
(1) Medium separation anxiety: the infant’s play is disrupted when the mother leaves.
(2) Infant explores the unfamiliar environment, returning to the mother at regular intervals
and using her as a safe base.
(3) The infant shows ‘Hot and Cold’ behaviour towards the stranger. The infant is unsure of
how to act.
M
(4) Shows joy on reunion: Pleased to see the mother and is easily comforted in her presence.
(5) Medium stranger anxiety: the infant is wary of strangers and will move closer to the
mother when in the presence of a strange.
(6) Explores the unfamiliar environment but does NOT return to the mother and does NOT
SA
use her as a safe base.

(7) Not easily comforted by mother and rejects (resists) attempts of mother’s comfort.
(8) Shows no joy on reunion: Little reaction upon mother’s return and often ignores her.
(9) High separation anxiety: extremely distressed and violent when the mother leaves.
(10) Low separation anxiety: the infant not concerned by the mother’s departure.
(11) Low stranger anxiety: the infant is unconcerned about strangers and shows little
preference between the mother and stranger.

Insecure-avoidant Insecure resistant
Secure (66%)
(22%) (12%)
Exploration &
Secure base
behaviour
E
PL
Separation
Anxiety
M
Stranger
Anxiety
SA
Reunion
Behaviour

Task: Four groups will be randomly chosen to perform their role-play. As you watch each
performance, make a note of the attachment type (secure, insecure avoidant and insecure
resistant) and explain why. Also, make a note of any errors in their performance.
Group 1
Attachment type: Were there any inaccuracies?
Justification:
E
Group 2
PL
Justification:
Group 3
M
Justification:
SA
Group 4
Justification:

The caregiver sits on one of the chairs and reads a magazine. The in-
fant is encouraged to play/explore.
E
A stranger enters and tries to interact with the infant.
PL
The caregiver leaves and the stranger interacts with the infant.
M
SA
The stranger returns and tries to interact with the child.
The caregiver returns and is reunited with the child.

Response to reunion Response to reunion
E
PL
M
SA
The Strange Situation – Role Play
Group 1 Group 2
Secure Insecure avoidant
E
Group 3 Group 4
Insecure resistant Secure
PL
Group 5 Group 6
M
Insecure avoidant You choose…
SA


Strange Situation Sample

Uploaded by

Document Information

Original Title

Copyright

Available Formats

Share this document

Share or Embed Document

Sharing Options

Did you find this document useful?

Is this content inappropriate?

Copyright:

Available Formats

Strange Situation Sample

Uploaded by

Copyright:

Available Formats

Attachment

The caregiver leaves the child alone.

The caregiver leaves the child alone.

(2) Infant explores the (6) Explores the unfamiliar

(2) Infant explores the (6) Explores the unfamiliar

Exploration & Does NOT USE

 You will rehearse and perform the

A stranger enters and tries to interact

The caregiver returns and the stranger

The stranger returns and tries to interact

The caregiver returns and is reunited with

© tutor2u AQA A Level Psychology Handout

use her as a safe base.

© tutor2u AQA A Level Psychology Handout

© tutor2u AQA A Level Psychology Handout

© tutor2u AQA A Level Psychology Handout

The caregiver leaves the child alone.

The stranger returns and tries to interact with the child.

The caregiver returns and is reunited with the child.

© tutor2u AQA A Level Psychology Handout

You might also like