Ainsworth's strange situation study Flashcards
what was the aim of the study?
To investigate whether:
- attachments vary between children
- Different children have different attachment types
- There are qualitative differences between children’s attachments
PROCEDURES:
- Ainsworth conducted a structured observation
- participants were infants aged 12-18 months
- ainsworth observed from behind one way glass and recorded the observation
the study consisted of seven, three minute episodes:
- firstly the parent and infant alone
- then the stranger joins the parent and infant
- then the parent leaves the infant and stranger alone
- then the parent returns and the stranger leaves
- then the parent leaves and the infant is left alone
- then the stranger returns
- and finally, the parent returns and the stranger leaves
Ainsworth measured 4 infant behaviours:
- willingness to explore
- separation anxiety
- stranger anxiety
- reunion behaviour
Ainsworth measured the infants behaviour on a 1-7 scale
Also the study was stopped if the infant became too distressed.
FINDINGS:
3 different attachment types were identified:
SECURE: 70 percent
-Willing to explore when mother is present
- distressed when mother leaves
- will engage with the stranger but treats them differently to the mother
- greets mother at reunion and is quickly comforted
INSECURE AVOIDANT: 20 percent
- willing to explore and ignored the mother whether present or not
- not distressed when mother leaves
- treats mother and stranger the same
- ignores mother at reunion
INSECURE RESISTANT: 10 percent
- relcutant to explore and clingy to the mother
- extremely distressed when mother leaves
- resists stranger & treats mother and stranger differently
- ambivalent at reunion - wants comfort and then rejects mother
CONCLUSIONS:
- There are qualitative differences in attachments between children
- most American children are securely attached
- the mothers sensitivity influences the quality of the attachment
Characteristics of a secure attachment:
- There is a strong bond between the child and its caregiver - the caregiver is sensitive and attentive to their needs
- When separated the infants becomes distressed
- However easily soothed by the attachment figure when reunited
Characteristics of an insecure-avoidant attachment
- independent of the attachment figure
- caregiver is insensitive and rejecting of their needs
- Do not seek contact from the attachment figure when distressed
- can often be comforted by stranger
Characteristics of an insecure-resistant attachment
- children adopt an ambivalent (have mixed feelings about someone) behaviour style towards the attachment figure
- fails to develop any feeling of security from the attachment figure
- when distressed they are difficult to soothe and are often not comforted by the attachment figure or a stranger
Explain why there afferent differences between children’s attachment types:
Determined by the behaviour of the primary care giver
- For example, securely attached infant are associated with sensitive & responsive primary care givers.
Insecure avoidant infants are associated with unresponsive primary care.
- The child learns to believe that communication of needs has no influence on the primary caregiver.
- Insecure resistant attached infants are associated with inconsistent primary care.
- Sometimes the child’s needs are met and sometimes they are ignored by the caregiver.
DETRACTS FROM AINSWORTHS STUDY
The strange situation is unethical because some cultural practices such as Japan, teach that interacting with a stranger is wrong and that they should stay close to a biological relative
- therefore by placing a child in the strange situation’ with a stranger and without the comfort and protection of their mother as a base, they may become severely distressed and anxious as it is conflicting what their mother taught them.
- additionally the discomfort which the child displays may result in the parent becoming upset at the sight of their child being distressed, therefore this study can be seen as unethical.
DETRACTS FROM AINSWORTHS STUDY
The study lacks internal validity because the parent may have wanted to conform with the researchers expectations and as a result they may adapt their behaviour and act differently.
- this would consequently manipulate the child’s behaviour as the parent is acting differently to usual.
- this matters because if the child’s behaviour is different to usual then the study might not accurately represent their behaviour in real life.
DETRATCS FROM AINSWORTHS STUDY
- The study has high ecological validity as some of the characteristics of the strange situation possess features which can be reflected in real life situations such as schools and nurseries.
- for example the child being left alone, without the parent is evident of a nursery situation as they may also be left with a person that they haven’t seen before. ( a stranger)
- THIS MATTERS BECAUSE if there are elements which immitate real life, then it can therefore be generalised to other settings and consequently presents high ecological validity.
