Attachment - Ainsworth's strange situations Flashcards
What was the purpose if Ainsworth’s strange situations?
To assess the quality of attachment
What was the procedure?
- Lab study
12-18 months were left in a room with their mother. Eight different scenarios occurred including being approached by a stranger, being left alone and the mother returning.
The infants reaction were constantly observed through a two-way mirror
Ainsworth observed 5 behaviours:
Proximity seeking
Exploration/secure base
Separation anxiety
Stranger anxiety
Response to reunion
The procedure has 7 episodes that are 3 minutes long
What is Proximity seeking?
Closeness to caregiver
What is Exploration/secure base
Feeling confident to explore whilst caregiver is present
What is Separation anxiety
Protest at separation
What is Stranger anxiety
Display of anxiety (worrying/nervousness) in the presence of a stranger
What is Response to reunion
The child’s response to their caregiver when reunited with them.
What are findings of Mary Ainsworth’s strange situations?
Ainsworth identified three main types of attachment
(Type B) Secure attachment
(Type A) Insecure-avoidant attachment
(Type C) Insecure-resistant attachment
What is type B attachment?
Secure attachment: Children explore happily but regularly go back to their caregiver
60-75% of British kids are classed as secure
What is type A attachment?
Insecure-avoidant attachment : Children explore freely but they don’t show secure-base behaviour or seek proximity, They show little to no reaction when their caregiver leaves.
About 20-25% of British kids are classed as Insecure avoidant
What is type C attachment?
Insecure-resistant attachment : Children seek greater proximity & explore less. They show a lot of separation anxiety and stranger anxiety.
Around 3% of British kids are classed as Insecure-resistant
Strength 1 : Standardised procedure
P (Point): A strength of Ainsworth’s Strange Situation is its use of a standardized procedure, which increases reliability.
E (Evidence): The Strange Situation consists of eight structured episodes, including separations and reunions between a child and caregiver in a controlled environment.
E (Explanation): This standardized method allows researchers to replicate the study across different settings and populations, enhancing the reliability of the findings. Consistent procedures mean that variations in results are more likely due to differences in attachment styles rather than inconsistencies in the research process.
L (Link): Thus, the Strange Situation is a reliable method for assessing attachment types, which is crucial for developing a consistent understanding of attachment behavior across various contexts.
Strength 2 : Good predictive validity
P (Point): Another strength of the Strange Situation is its predictive validity, as it can predict future social and emotional development.
E (Evidence): Longitudinal studies have shown that children classified as securely attached in the Strange Situation tend to have better social and emotional outcomes later in life compared to those classified as insecurely attached.
E (Explanation): This suggests that the attachment classifications identified by the Strange Situation are meaningful and provide important insights into a child’s development. It supports Bowlby’s theory that early attachment experiences have long-lasting effects on an individual’s emotional and social development.
L (Link): Therefore, the predictive validity of the Strange Situation demonstrates its importance as a tool for understanding the long-term impacts of early attachment experiences, making it a valuable method in developmental psychology.
Weakness 1 : Culture Bias
P (Point): A major weakness of Ainsworth’s Strange Situation is its cultural bias, limiting its validity across different cultures.
E (Evidence): The procedure was developed in the United States with American participants, reflecting Western norms of child-rearing and attachment.
E (Explanation): In cultures such as Japan, where children are rarely separated from their caregivers, the Strange Situation might incorrectly classify secure children as insecure due to their intense distress upon separation. Similarly, in Germany, where independence is encouraged, children may appear avoidant, although this is culturally normative behavior.
L (Link): This suggests that the Strange Situation may not be a valid measure of attachment in all cultural contexts, highlighting the need for culturally sensitive methods when assessing attachment styles globally.
