Strange Situation Flashcards
What is the strange situation
(3)
-A controlled observation designed to test attachment security
-Infants are assessed on their response to playing in an unfamiliar room,Being left alone, with a stranger and
-Being reunited with a caregiver
What is the Aim of the study
-To be able to observe key attachment behaviour as a means of assessing the quality of a child’s attachment
The procedure (a series of 8 episodes, mainly lasting 3 mins each) provided Ainsworth with a means of looking at: (6)
100 american middle class infants
Proximity seeking
Exploration and secure base behaviour
Stranger anxiety
Separation anxiety
Response to reunion
What is Proximity Seeking
– An infant with good attachment will stay close to the caregiver
What is Exploration and Secure Base Behaviour
– Good attachment enables a child to feel confident to explore.
What is Stranger Anxiety
– a sign of attachment is to show anxiety when a stranger approaches
What is Separation Anxiety
– a sign of attachment is to protest at separation from caregiver
What is Response to Reunion
– how the child reacts upon being reunited with a caregiver.
What were the findings of Ainsworths study
-There were distinct patterns in the way that infants behaved
-;She identified three main types of attachment:
-Insecure avoidant-Attachment characterised by low anxiety but weak attachment–>Low stranger and separation anxiety and little response to reunion(an avoidance of the caregiver)
-Secure attachment-Generally thought of as the most desireable attachment type, had moderate stranger and separation anxiety and ease of comfort at reunion
-Insecure resistant attachment-Strong attachment and high anxiety.High levels of stranger/separation anxiety
Findings on insecure avoidant (5)
-Known as-Type A
-15% of infants
-These infants ignored their mothers and her presence/absence didn’t affect their play. They did not return to her at any intervals.
-Infants displayed little stress when she left and ignored her when she returned.
-Infants reacted to the stranger and mother in a similar way – with little stranger anxiety shown.
Findings on securely attached (4)
-Known as Type B 70% of infants
-These infants played contently with their mother present (it didn’t matter if the stranger was present). They would return to her periodically during their play.
-During the reunions, they sought comfort from her and then continued to play.
-Mother and strange were treated differently with moderate separation distress and stranger anxiety.
Findings on Insecure Resistant (5)
-Known as Type C 15% of infants
-15% of infants were fussy and wary even with the mother present.
-They explored less and stayed by their mother. They showed huge stranger distress and separation anxiety.
-They were distressed by her leaving and sought contact on her return but simultaneously would show anger and fight her contact.
-E.G would put their arms out to be picked up and then fight to be put down again
Con of Ainsworths-conclusion(only identifies the type of attachmwnt to the mother (4)
-Mary Ainsworth’s conclusion that the strange situation can be used to identify the child’s type of attachment has been criticized on the grounds that it identifies only the type of attachment to the mother.
-The child may have a different type of attachment to the father or grandmother,
-For example (Lamb, 1977). This means that it lacks validity, as it is not measuring a general attachment style,
-but instead an attachment style specific to the mother.
Pro-Reliability (3)
-The strange situation classification has been found to have good reliability.
-This means that it achieves consistent results.
-For example, a study conducted in Germany supports it as it found 78% of the children were classified in the same way at ages 1 and 6 years (Wartner et al. 1994).
Con- Lacks validity as articifical
-Lamb et al. (1985) have criticized it for being highly artificial and therefore lacking ecological validity.
-The child is placed in a strange and artificial environment, and the procedure of the mother and stranger entering and leaving the room follows a predetermined script.
Sample size of the study con
-The studies sample is biased - comprising 100 middle class American families.
-Therefore, it is difficult to generalize the findings outside of America and to working class families.
What causes difference in attachment? give an exmaple
Ainsworth argues that the differences are caused by the sensitivity of the mother to the infants needs.
E.g. mothers who read their infants well produce
securely attached infants.
