Strange Situation Experiments Pleasantville High School Mary Ainsworth Attachment Theory Strange Situation Experiments Thomas Baffuto Pleasantville High School Attachment Theory

Characteristics of Attachment Characteristics of Attachment John Bowlby Safe Haven: When the child feels threatened or afraid, s/he can return to the caregiver for comfort and soothing. Secure Base: The caregiver provides a secure and dependable base for the child to explore the world. Proximity Maintenance: The child strives to stay near the caregiver, thus keeping the child safe. Separation Distress: When separated from the caregiver, the child will become upset and distressed.

Ainsworth “Strange Situation” Assessment Parent and Child are left in the room Child explores the room without parental participation Stranger enters the room, talks to the parent, and approaches the child. Parent quietly leaves the room Parent then returns and comforts the child.

Three Types of Attachment Ainsworth “Strange Situation” Assessment Three Types of Attachment Secure Attachment Ambivalent insecure attachment Avoidant insecure attachment

Characteristics of Secure Attachment Ainsworth “Strange Situation” Assessment Characteristics of Secure Attachment As Children Able to separate from parent Seek comfort when parent returns Return of parent is met with positive emotions Prefers parents to strangers As Adults Have trusting lasting relationships Tend to have good self esteem Comfortable sharing feelings with friends and partners Seek out social support

Characteristics of Ambivalent Attachment Ainsworth “Strange Situation” Assessment Characteristics of Ambivalent Attachment As Children May be wary of strangers Become greatly distressed when the parent leaves Do not appear to be comforted by the return of the parent As Adults Reluctant to become close to others Worry that their partner does not love them Become very distraught when a relationship ends

Characteristics of Avoidant Attachment Ainsworth “Strange Situation” Assessment Characteristics of Avoidant Attachment As Children May avoid parents Does not seek much comfort or contact from parents Shows little of no preference between parent and stranger As Adults May have problems with intimacy Invests little emotion in social and romantic relationships Unable of unwilling to share thoughts and feelings with others