Mary Ainsworth
There seems little reason to doubt that the intelligence and dedication that women have devoted to their traditional role can now, when not required by that role, be channeled elsewhere without undue hindrance – via Mary D. Salter Ainsworth: an autobiographical sketch
Few discoveries have had as profound an impact on developmental psychology as Mary Ainsworth’s Attachment Theory. She recognized the importance of early mother-infant interactions through collaborations with John Bowlby and authored several publications that highlighted the crucial role this dyad plays in the development of different attachment styles in children. Her collaboration with Bruno Klopfer was essential to establishing the Rorschach Test as a viable clinical tool. Their book, Developments in the Rorschach Technique, Volume 1, guided the administration of the test and the interpretation of its results. By introducing standardized procedures, the book enhanced the test’s reliability and clinical relevance, making it foundational to the use of projective techniques in psychoanalytic assessment.
Despite the significance of this work, Ainsworth’s most notable contribution came later through her research in Attachment Theory. After marrying her husband, the couple moved to Kampala, Uganda, where Ainsworth conducted a pioneering short-term longitudinal study on the mother-infant dynamic during the first year of life. This later laid the groundwork for her Strange Situation Experiment, which she conducted at Johns Hopkins University. She believed that the nature of the longitudinal studies, although fruitful, did not allow for the observation of attachment and exploratory behaviours. Exploratory behaviours were ways to adapt and orient to the present and a new environment. Attachment behaviours, on the other hand, were ways in which individuals, particularly infants, tried to stay close to their parents or any other caregiver.
Ainsworth devised the Strange Situation experiment, which allowed her to observe a balance between these behaviours – how infants used their mothers as a secure base to explore a novel environment (exploratory behaviours) and how attachment behaviours took precedence over exploratory behaviours in the absence of the mother. The experiment involved 8 episodes with a varied combination of the mother, baby, and a stranger in a room full of toys. Each episode lasted between 30 seconds and 3 minutes. Following the experiment, Ainsworth co-authored the book Patterns of Attachment: A Psychological Study of the Strange Situation, in which she summarized her findings. She also categorized the children from the sample into three distinct groups based on their attachment styles, as determined by their attachment and exploratory behaviors during the experiment.
First was Group B, the children with a Secure Attachment style. A typical infant that possesses this style of attachment would use their mother as a secure base to engage in exploratory behaviours, is less likely to cry in the absence of their mother, and is promptly soothed upon the mother's return. Group C’s infants demonstrated an Anxious Attachment style and ambivalence to their mother’s physical contact. While one subgroup was passive, the other was easily frustrated and angered when not provided with physical proximity. They were also observed to exhibit more separation anxiety than Group B. Due to these resistive and ambivalent behaviours, their attachment style can also be called Resistant or Anxious-Ambivalent Attachment style. Lastly, infants in Group A were observed to be insecurely attached, thus named Insecure Attachment style. They exhibited similar exploratory behaviours to Groups B and C; however, the distinct difference lay in the reunion phase with the parent. The infants from this group were difficult to soothe despite being held close. In addition, infants engaged in avoidant behaviours at a higher rate by turning away from the mother and averting their gaze despite the mother’s efforts to grab their attention. Due to this, Insecure Attachment is synonymous with Avoidant Attachment style.
These three styles of attachment lay the foundation for understanding the mother-infant dyad, parenting styles, and therapeutic approaches. However, her research was not without controversy. Some viewed her emphasis on maternal sensitivity and the importance of avoiding prolonged separations during infancy as being at odds with the goals of the women’s liberation movement. She was often portrayed as someone who believed that full-time mothering was necessary to ensure optimal responsiveness and was accused of being out of touch with evolving lifestyles. Ainsworth acknowledged these criticisms, recognizing that while maternal caregiving has deep evolutionary roots, it is not the sole path to effective childrearing. She also believes that women’s intelligence and dedication, once confined to traditional norms, can be redirected toward other meaningful pursuits in the ever-evolving world.
Ainsworth’s career stands as a testament to perseverance and progress amid criticism. The impact of her research is experienced within and beyond developmental psychology. Although criticized for the implications of its results, her study opened important conversations about caregiving, gender roles, and early interpersonal dynamics. Her contributions continue to shape modern parenting, attachment-based therapies, and cross-cultural examination of child development. Ainsworth persevered through periods of professional isolation and discrimination, continuing her work on attachment theory alongside Bowlby and cementing her place as a trailblazer in developmental and child psychology.
References:
Mary D. Salter Ainsworth: an autobiographical sketch. (2013). Attachment & Human Development, 15(5–6), 448–459. https://doi.org/10.1080/14616734.2013.852411
Mary Ainsworth, 1913–1999. (1999). Attachment & Human Development, 1(2), 217–228. https://doi.org/10.1080/14616739900134241
Klopfer, B., Ainsworth, M. D., Klopfer, W. G., & Holt, R. R. (1954). Developments in the Rorschach technique. Vol. 1. Technique and theory. World Book Co..
Ainsworth, M. D. S., & Bell, S. M. (1970). Attachment, exploration, and separation: Illustrated by the behavior of one-year-olds in a strange situation. Child Development, 41, 49-67.
American Psychological Association. (2023). Attachment behavior. In APA Dictionary of Psychology. Retrieved April 1, 2025, from https://dictionary.apa.org/attachment-behavior
American Psychological Association. (2018). Exploratory behavior. In APA Dictionary of Psychology. Retrieved April 1, 2025, from https://dictionary.apa.org/exploratory-behavior
Ainsworth, M.D.S., Blehar, M.C., Waters, E., & Wall, S. (1979). Patterns of Attachment: A Psychological Study of the Strange Situation (1st ed.). Psychology Press. https://doi.org/10.4324/9781315802428