Ainsworth’s Strange Situation - evaluation

Question 1

The Strange Situation shows very good inter-rater reliability

Answer 1

• Different observers watching the same children generally agree on attachment type
• This may be because the Strange Situation takes place under controlled conditions and the behavioural categories are easy to observe

Question 2

There is predictive validity of attachment types

Answer 2

• Attachment types predicts later development
• Secure babies typically have greater success at school and more lasting romantic relationships
• Insecure-resistant attachment is associated with the worst outcomes e.g. bullying and adult mental health problems

Question 3

Observations were only a snapshot of behaviour, not taking into consideration wider factors such as the child’s relationship with other family members, or the behaviour in familiar environments

Question 4

Temperament may be a confounding variable
- Kagen (1982)

Answer 4

suggests that temperament (the child’s genetically influenced personality) is a more important influence on
behaviour in the Strange Situation
- This challenges the validity of the Strange Situation because its intention is to measure the quality of attachment

Question 5

The Strange Situation may be a culture-bound test

Answer 5

• Cultural differences in children’s experiences mean they respond differently and caregivers from different cultures behave
  differently
• Takahashi (1990) notes that Japanese mothers are rarely separated from infants, therefore the infants show high levels of separation anxiety
• Van Ijzendoorn and Kroonenberg found more insecure-avoidant in Germany and more insecure-resistant in Japan