Mary Ainsworth
Definition
Mary Ainsworth was a developmental psychologist known for her work in early emotional attachment with "The Strange Situation" methodology.
Analogy
Consider Mary Ainsworth as an architect who designed blueprints (the Strange Situation Experiment) for understanding how children form emotional bonds (buildings) with their caregivers (builders).
Related terms
Attachment Theory: Developed by John Bowlby, this theory suggests that children come into the world biologically pre-programmed to form attachments with others as this will help them survive.
Secure Attachment: This is one type of attachment identified by Ainsworth where children show distress when separated from caregivers and joy when the caregiver returns.
Insecure Attachment: Another type of attachment identified by Ainsworth where children may avoid or ignore the caregiver — showing little emotion when the caregiver departs or returns.
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