Strange Situation

Strange Situation

1. 1. The security of attachment in one- to two-year-olds was investigated using the 'strange situation' procedure, in order to determine the nature of attachment behaviors and styles of attachment.

2. 2. The experiment is set up in a small room with one way glass so the behavior of the infant can be observed covertly. Infants were aged between 12 and 18 months. The sample comprised about 100 middle class American families.

3. 3. The procedure, known as the ‘Strange Situation’, was conducted by observing the behavior of the infant in a series of eight episodes lasting approximately 3 minutes each:

   • (1) Mother, baby and experimenter (lasts less than one minute).
   • (2) Mother and baby alone.
   • (3) Stranger joins mother and infant.
   • (4) Mother leaves baby and stranger alone.
   • (5) Mother returns and stranger leaves.
   • (6) Mother leaves; infant left completely alone.
   • (7) Stranger returns.
   • (8) Mother returns and stranger leaves.

4. 4. Strange Situation classifications (i.e. attachment styles) are based primarily on 4 interaction behaviors directed toward the mother in the two reunion episodes

   • 1. Proximity and contacting seeking
   • 2. Contact maintaining
   • 3. Avoidance of proximity and contact
   • 4. Resistance to contact and comforting

5. 5. Ainsworth (1970) identified three main attachment styles, secure (type B), insecure avoidant (type A) and insecure ambivalent/resistent (type C). She concluded that these attachment styles were the result of early interactions with the mother. A forth attachment style known as disorganized was later identified

   • • B: Secure Attachment
       • Securely attached children comprised the majority of the sample in Ainsworth’s (1971, 1978) studies.
       • Such children feel confident that the attachment figure will be available to meet their needs. They use the attachment figure as a safe base to explore the environment and seek the attachment figure in times of distress
       • Securely attached infants are easily soothed by the attachment figure when upset. Infants develop a secure attachment when the caregiver is sensitive to their signals, and responds appropriately to their needs.
     • A: Insecure Avoidant
       • Insecure avoidant children do not orientate to their attachment figure while investigating the environment.
       • They are very independent of the attachment figure both physically and emotionally
       • They do not seek contract with the attachment figure when distressed. Such children are likely to have a caregiver who is insensitive and rejecting of their needs
     • C: Insecure Ambivalent / Resistant
       • Here children adopt an ambivalent behavioral style towards the attachment figure. The child will commonly exhibit clingy and dependent behavior, but will be rejecting of the attachment figure when they engage in interaction.
       • The child fails to develop any feelings of security from the attachment figure. Accordingly they exhibit difficulty moving away from the attachment figure to explore novel surroundings.
       • When distressed they are difficult to soothe and are not comforted by interaction with the attachment figure. This behavior results from an inconsistent level of response to their needs from the primary caregiver.
   • Ainsworth (1978) suggested that behavior in the strange situation classification was determined by the behavior of the primary carer (in this case the mother)

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