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

2. 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.

3. 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.

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

5. 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

6. 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

7. 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