Lecture Notes: Mary Ainsworth and the Strange Situation Test

Introduction

• Importance of primary attachment figures in psychology
• Focus on Mary Ainsworth's contributions over John Bowlby

The Strange Situation Test

• Developed by Mary Ainsworth
• Consists of 8 sections to observe attachment behaviors

Section 1: Introduction

• Baby and mother are introduced to the room by the experimenter
• Experimenters observe through a double-sided mirror
• Key behaviors: attachment seeking, resistance, exploration

Section 2: Exploration

• Baby directed towards toys
• Mother reads a magazine
• Measures the baby’s use of the mother as a "safe base"

Section 3: Introduction of the Stranger

• Stranger enters the room
• Based on Bowlby's theory of an inbuilt alarm system for strangeness

Section 4: Parent's Departure

• Parent leaves the room
• Stranger stops playing with the child
• Observers note the child’s reaction to the absence of the parent and interaction with the stranger

Section 5: Parent's Return

• Mother returns to soothe the baby
• Observations include how the baby reacts: smiling, needing a hug, or showing no reaction
• Different reactions based on attachment style: Secure, Avoidant, Anxious

Section 6: Alone Time

• Both the parent and stranger leave the room
• Observations focus on separation anxiety and coping mechanisms

Section 7: Stranger’s Return

• Stranger tries to engage and soothe the child
• Observers assess if the child needs their secure base to resume exploration

Section 8: Conclusion

• Baby is comforted
• Experiment ends

Attachment Styles

Secure Attachment

• Child is comforted reliably
• Caregiver is attuned and responsive
• Shows affection through physical touch

Anxious Attachment

• Unpredictable care from the parent
• Child is anxious about the parent meeting their needs
• Linked to preemptive fear of abandonment

Avoidant Attachment

• Child avoids seeking emotional warmth
• An implied agreement to not express needs outwardly

Future Topics

• Link between attachment theory and CBT (Cognitive Behavioral Therapy)
• Developmental role of attachment theory in CBT

Administrative Notes

• Videos will be posted every Monday at 6
• Encouragement for comments and questions for further discussion