2.7. Types of attachment: The Strange Situation

Question 1

What did Ainsworth devise the strange situation to test?

Answer 1

Nature of attachment, under a controlled observation method

Question 2

Aim of the strange situation

Answer 2

To see how infants behave under stress and novelty

• Stress created by presence of stranger and separation and of primary caregiver -> to test stranger anxiety and separation anxiety

Question 3

What did the novel situation encourage?

Answer 3

Exploration to test secure base concept

Question 4

How big was the research room?

Answer 4

9x9 foot marked off via squares to record movement

Question 5

Procedure of strange situation

Answer 5

• 7 episodes designed to highlight certain behaviours
• Data collected every 15 seconds by a group of observers through a two way mirror
• Researcher notes a behaviour and the intensity on a scale of 1-7

Question 6

What were the behaviours the researcher noted?

Answer 6

• Proximity seeking behaviours
• Exploration and secure base behaviours
• Stranger anxiety
• Separation anxiety
• Reunion behaviour

Question 7

Episode 1 what happens

Answer 7

Caregiver takes infant into laboratory room and they’re left to explore

Question 8

Episode 1 what it tests

Answer 8

Exploration and secure base

Question 9

Episode 2 what happens

Answer 9

Stranger enters and approaches infant

Question 10

Episode 2 what it tests

Answer 10

Stranger anxiety

Question 11

Episode 3 what happens

Answer 11

The caregiver leaves unobtrusively and the stranger interacts with the infant

Question 12

Episode 3 what it tests

Answer 12

Separation and stranger anxiety

Question 13

Episode 4 what happens

Answer 13

The caregiver returns and stranger leaves

Question 14

Episode 4 what it tests

Answer 14

Reunion behaviour and exploration/ secure base behaviour

Question 15

Episode 5 what happens

Answer 15

The caregiver leaves so the infant is alone

Question 16

Episode 5 what it tests

Answer 16

Separation anxiety

Question 17

Episode 6 what happens

Answer 17

The stranger enters and interacts with the infant

Question 18

Episode 6 what it tests

Answer 18

Stranger anxiety

Question 19

Episode 7 what happens

Answer 19

The caregiver returns and greets the infant

Question 20

Episode 7 what it tests

Answer 20

Reunion behaviour

Question 21

Type B, secure attachment findings

Answer 21

• 66% of infants
• Moderate proximity seeking
• Moderate exploration but happy to return
• Moderate stranger anxiety
• Moderate separation anxiety
• Easily calmed upon reunion

Question 22

Type A, insecure avoidant attachment findings

Answer 22

• 22% of infants
• Low proximity seeking
• High exploration
• Low stranger and separation anxiety
• Ignores upon reunion

Question 23

Type c, insecure resistant attachment

Answer 23

• 12% of infants
• High proximity seeking
• Low exploration
• High separation and stranger anxiety
• Hard to calm upon reunion

Question 24

Strength: good predictor of later development

Answer 24

• Securely attached infants had better outcomes (academic success, more friends, better romantic relationships)
• Resistant infants were bullied and had adult mental health problems
• This is evidence for validity of the concept because it can predict future outcomes
• However, it may not measure genetic differences in anxiety.

Question 25

Strength: inter-rater reliability

Answer 25

• Inter-rater reliability used on ratings used on ratings were compared by a panel of experienced judges
• Behaviour categories were clearly defined, therefore more reliable
• Ainsworth found an almost perfect agreement when rating exploratory behaviour - 0.94 agreement

Question 26

Weakness: Culture bias

Answer 26

• Might not have the same meaning in countries outside of Western Europe and the USA where it was created.
• Cultural diffs in children’s experiences mean they respond differently e.g. Japanese babies show anxiety because they aren’t used to being left by their caregiver
• This means it’s difficult to know what the strange situation is measuring in some countries/ cultures

Question 27

Weakness: 4th attachment type

Answer 27

A reanalysis of over 200 strange situation videotapes led Main and Solomon to propose a 4th attachment type:

Disorganised attachment:
- A lack of consistent pattens of social behaviour
- Lack coherent strategy for dealing with stress of separation
- An odd mix of avoidant and resistant