the strange situation Ainsworth

Question 1

aim

Answer 1

to be able to observe key attatchment behaviours as. means of assign the Childs quality of attachment to a caregiver

Question 2

procedure

Answer 2

controlled observation
takes place in controlled setting ie lab
behaviours used to judge attachment incl ;
proximity seeking
exploration and secure base behaviour
stranger anxiety
separation anxiety
response to reunion
- procedure has even episodes each h of which last three minutes testing all behaviours above

Question 3

findings
Ainsworth et al 1978
TYPE A INSECURE AVOIDANT ATTATCHMENT

Answer 3

explore freely
no proximity or secure base behavior
no/lil reaction when caregiver leaves
make lil effort to contact on return
lil stranger anxiety
do not need comfort at reunion
20-25% toddlers are this

Question 4

findings
Ainsworth et al 1978
TYPE B SECURE ATTACHMENT

Answer 4

explore happily
regularly go back to their caregiver
moderation separation distress and stranger anxiety
require and accept comfort at reunion
60-75% British toddlers are this

Question 5

findings
Ainsworth et al 1978
TYPE C INSECURE RESISTANT ATTATCHMENT

Answer 5

seek greater proximity
explore less
huge stranger and separation distress
resist comfort when reunited
3% British toddlers are this

Question 6

strength
support for validity

Answer 6

attatchemnt type defined by SS strongly predictive of later development
babies secure = better outcomes
insecure resistant = worst outcomes incl bullying KOKKINOS 2007 and adult mental health problems WARD ET AL 2006
- this is evidence for validity of the concept as it can explain subsequent outcomes

Question 7

strength
good reliability

Answer 7

shows very good inter rater reliability
SS hugh control and behvaourial categories = easy to observe
BICK ET AL 2012 looked at inter rater reliability in team of SS observers and found agreement on attachment type 94% of babies
- this means we can be confident on type of attachment identified by S not just dependent on observer

Question 8

limitation
may be culture bound

Answer 8

culture différence at childhood mean that children respond differently to SS
caregivers from diffrent cultures behave differently. TAKAHASHI 1990 noted that the test does not really work in Japan as mothers are so rarely separated rom their babies , so high levels of separation. anxiety and at reunion mothers rush in and scoop up their babies meaning Childs response was hard to observe

Question 9

limitation
at least one more attachment type

Answer 9

Ainsworth conceived three attachment types , insecure aviodant , secure and insecure resistant .
MAIN AND SOLOMON 1986 tinted out that a minority of children display a typical attachments that do not fall within A,B OR C.
this atypical attachment type is commonly known as disorganised attachment , they display an odd mix of resistant and avoidant behaviour