Ainsworth’s Strange Situation Evaluation

Question 1

How did the Strange situation miss other types of attachment?

Answer 1

Main and Solomon (1986) analysed over 200 strange situation tapes and proposed insecure-disorganised attachment type. This is a lack of consistent patterns of social behaviour

Van Ijzendoorn (1999) further carried out a meta-analysis of nearly 80 US studies and found 15% had insecure-disorganised attachment.

This suggests Ainsworth’s original conclusions were oversimplified

Question 2

What is a strength of observational studies such as the strange situation?

Answer 2

The reliability is important