MARY AINSWORTH

BIOGRAPHY

• Born in Glendale, Ohio 1913
• Studied psychology at the University of Toronto
• Earned her PhD in 1939
• Joined the Canadian Women's Army Corps in 1942 during WWII

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• After the war she taught at several Universities
• University of Toronto
• John Hopkins University
• University of Virginia

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• Known for her work in the development of attachment theory

STRANGE SITUATION

• Devised by Ainsworth in the 1970s
• To observe attachment relationships between a caregiver and a child
• It applies to children between the ages of 9 months and 18 months

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• Child is observed playing for 20 minutes while caregivers and strangers enter and leave the room

GROUPS

• Children were put into 4 groups
• Secure
• Anxious-Avoidant
• Anxious-Avoidant/Resistant, insecure
• Disorganized/Disoriented