6. strange situation

Question 1

method/ procedure

Answer 1

100 middle class Americans
method of controlled observation/ observation technique
8 steps all except the first took 3 minuities
steps included child shown toys, left alone, approached by a stranger, mother returns to comfort child

Question 2

what did observers record

Answer 2

willingness to explore
separation anxiety
stranger anxiety
reunion behavior

Question 3

what was th e strange situation used to assess

Answer 3

an infant’s attachment type

Question 4

3 types of attachment

Answer 4

securely attached
insecure avoidant
insecure resistant

Question 5

securely attached

Answer 5

66%
caregiver is sensitive
babies happy to explore when mother is present but seeks proximity
separation anxiety is moderate when mother leaves
when mother returns infant requires and accepts comfort from caregiver

Question 6

insecure avoidant

Answer 6

22%
caregiver id indifferent to needs
explores and doesn’t seek proximity to mother when she’s present
little to no separation anxiety when mother leaves or towards stranger
requires no comfort from mother at reunion

Question 7

insecure resistant

Answer 7

12%
caregivers show opposite feelings and behaviors
child explores less and seeks proximity
considerable separation anxiety to mother leaving and to stranger entering
resists comfort when reunited with mother

Question 8

strengths

Answer 8

predictive validity:
attachment type predicts later development t eg secure babies are more likely to be successful in school and have lasting romantic relationships

good inter-rater reliability:
different observers watching the same age children agree on the attachment type. Bick et al 2012 found 94% agreement. because strange situation is highly controlled so not dependent on who is observing them

used to improve children’s lives:
through the use of intervention strategy eg the circle of security [project Cooper et all 2011 teaches caregivers to better understand their infants

Question 9

weaknesses

Answer 9

may be other attachment types ainsworth didn’t think of
eg main and Solomon 1986 said children can display atypical attachments that don’t fit into type A B or C, or a mix of both show a consistent type of attachment
not entirely valid

issues of validity identifies only the type of attachment to the mother as a child might have a different type of attachment with a different figure
not a measure of a general attachment style only a specific attachment style to the mother