the strange situation

Question 1

Ainsworth’s strange situation (1969)

Answer 1

a controlled observation which measures quality of attachment between a child and the caregiver

Question 2

procedure

Answer 2

• in the controlled observation was looking for 5 behaviours
• proximity seeking
• exploration & secure base behaviour
• stranger anxiety
• separation anxiety
• response to reunion

Question 3

7 episodes in the procedur

Answer 3

Encouraged to explore
Stranger enters & tries to interact
Leaving the child with the stranger
caregiver Returns & stranger leaves
Alone is left the child
Stranger returns
Caregiver returns & reunites with the child

Question 4

secure attachment (type B)

Answer 4

• 60%-75%
• healthy bond with caregiver which is based on trust
• showed moderate stranger & separation anxiety which is soothed quickly
• showed prominent safe base behaviour & regular proximity seeking behaviour

Question 5

insecure-avoidant attachment (type A)

Answer 5

• 20%-25%
• fragile relationship & highly independant infant
• showed little to no proximity seeking & safe base behaviour
• separation & strangers rarely distresses them
• no reaction to leaving & returning

Question 6

insecure-resistant attachment (type C)

Answer 6

• 3%
• ambivalent relationship with caregiver which is due to a lack of trust in relationship
• show high proximity seeking & explore the environment less
• show severe stranger & separation anxiety which are tough to comfort at reunions

Question 6

AO3: predictive validity (strength)

Answer 6

• proven to be able to predict future outcomes for children
• children classified as secure have better outcomes in schooling, relationships & friendships
• children classified as insecure have worse outcomes and have problems in mental health
• suggests that it can predict future behaviour and behaviour can be stopped

Question 7

AO3: good reliability (strength)

Answer 7

• has good inter-rater reliability
• Bick et al = found 94% agreement on inter-rater reliability
• this is as it is a controlled observation & the behavioural categories are very clear
• can be sure that the attachment type given isn’t a subjective judgement but an actual classification

Question 8

AO3: may be culture-bound (weakness)

Answer 8

• doesn’t have the same meaning outside it was developed for
• children from different cultures respond differently
• it may not work in Japan because Japanese mothers & babies are rarely separated which means that separation anxiety is high
• mothers picked up babies quickly on reunion & hard to see the child’s response
• can’t be used in all cultures

Question 9

AO3: another attachment type (weakness)

Answer 9

Main & Soloman = suggested a 4th attachment type (disorganised)
- it is a mix of avoidant & resistant behaviours
- suggests that Ainsworth may have been wrongly classifying children
- it is a very rare attachment and it is children who suffered severe neglect or abuse & usually develop psychological behaviours

Question 10

AO3: what does it measure? (weakness)

Answer 10

• Kagan = suggests the temperament of the child is more important influence on behaviour than attachment is
• temperament may be a confounding variable affecting responses in the situation
• may not be measuring attachment type but show personality instead