Ainsworth's Strange Situation: Types of Attachment

Question 1

Describe the procedure of the strange situation

Answer 1

• A novel environment a 9 x 9 foot space marked into 16 squares to record the infants movements
• Consists of 8 episodes, where the caregiver and stranger leave or stay with the infant, each to assess a certain behaviour: separation anxiety, reunion behaviour, stranger anxiety and the novel environment encourages exploration so secure-base behaviour
• Data collected by observers using a video recorder or a one-way mirror and categorise the behaviour. Each item is scored for intensity on a scale of 1 to 7.

Question 2

Describe the findings of the strange situation

Answer 2

• Secure attachment (B) have harmonious and cooperative behaviour with their caregiver. Shows moderate levels of stranger and separation anxiety show some distress but can be easily soothed. Show high levels of secure base and reunion behaviour
• Insecure-avoidant (A) avoid social interaction with others. Show little separation and stranger anxiety and are indifferent. No reaction to reunion behaviour and explore without a secure base
• Insecure-resistant (C) seeks and resists social interactions. Have high levels of stranger and separation anxiety. On reunion, display conflicting desires for and against contact (lack of trust). Don’t explore and maintain proximity.

Question 3

Give evaluation for Ainsworth’s strange situation (reliability)

Answer 3

• It had good inter-observer reliability)
• Measurements are meaningful if there’s agreement amongst observers, which is determined by comparing rating made by experienced judges
• Ainsworth et al (1978) found 0.94 agreement between so observations can be accepted as being reliable
• This is because the study is highly controlled and structured observation

Question 4

Give evaluation for Ainsworth’s strange situation (real-life world)

Answer 4

• Where disordered patterns of attachment develop infant and caregiver, intervention strategies can be developed.
• For example, Circle of Security Project (Cooper et al 2005) teaches caregivers to understand signals of distress and what it feels like. The project showed a decrease of 45% in disordered caregivers and an increase of 8% in securely attached children.
• This supports research on attachment types as it can be used to improve children’s lives

Question 5

Give evaluation for Ainsworth’s strange situation (culturally bound)

Answer 5

• Most of Ainsworth research was conducted on American infants/caregivers. However, different cultures have different child rearing practices which lead to different attachment types.
• For example, Japanese infants are raised by family and have little separation so are more likely to be insecure-avoidant which Ainsworth would suggest to be unhealthy but it is simply Japanese culture.
• Ainsworth’s study is said to be ‘imposed etic’ (imposing a culturally specific test on others) which can effect on how other countries are seen

Question 6

Give evaluation for Ainsworth strange situation (other types)

Answer 6

• Subsequent research found Ainsworth et al overlooked an attachment type
• Main and Solomon (1986) analysed over 200 strange situations tapes and proposed insecure-disorganised (D), lack of consistent social behavioural patterns. Such infants lack a coherent strategy for dealing with distress.
• Questions the validity of Ainsworth study