How did Mary Ainsworth study attachment styles in children?

Mary Ainsworth studied attachment styles in children primarily through the 'Strange Situation' experiment. This innovative observational procedure involved observing infants' responses to separations and reunions with their caregivers in a controlled environment. The 'Strange Situation' is designed to assess the strength of the attachment between a child and their caregiver by placing the child in a series of standardized situations, including encounters with a stranger and periods of separation from the caregiver. Depending on the child's behavior during these episodes—such as seeking comfort, showing distress, or displaying avoidance—Ainsworth categorized attachment styles into secure, anxious-ambivalent, and avoidant. This method provided valuable insights into how attachment behaviors manifest in children and helped solidify the foundational aspects of attachment theory.