Ainsworth's 'Strange Situation' Flashcards
EVALUATION - positive 1
REPLICABLE & HIGH INTER-OBSERVER RELIABILITY
- highly operationalised - observers have a clear view of how securely attached infants should behave (4 specific criteria)
EVALUATION - positive 2
RELIABILITY OF CLASSIFICATIONS
- waters (1978) = studied 50 infants at 12 & 18 mths - got similar results
- greatest consistency = reunion after separation
EVALUATION - positive 3
HIGH TEMPORAL VALIDITY
- same results over time
EVALUATION - negative 1
LOW POPULATION VALIDITY
- sample of 100 middle-class americans
- unlikely that findings are representative of the whole population
EVALUATION - negative 2
NOT ALWAYS APPLICABLE
- main & cassidy (1988) = identified a further group, disorganised
EVALUATION - negative 3
ETHICS
- creating & looking for anxiety in a child
results = percentages
secure = 66%
insecure avoidant = 22%
insecure resistant = 12%
secure in exploration & secure base behaviour
- explores the unfamiliar environment
- returns to mum at regular intervals & using her as a safe base
secure in separation anxiety
medium = play is disrupted when she leaves
secure in stranger anxiety
medium = wary & will move closer to mum
secure in reunion behaviour
joy = pleased & easily comforted
avoidant in exploration
- explores environment
- doesn’t return to mum or use her as a safe base
avoidant in separation anxiety
low = not concerned by mum’s departure
avoidant in stranger anxiety
low = unconcerned & shows little preference
avoidant in reunion behaviour
no joy = little reaction & often ignores her
resistant in separation anxiety
high = distressed & violent when mum leaves
resistant in stranger anxiety
high = hot & cold behaviour - unsure of how to react
resistant in reunion behaviour
not easily comforted & rejects attempts of mother’s comfort
