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Attachment Theory

( M. Ainsworth / J. Bowlby)

" Young children need to develop a relationship with at least one primary caregiver for normal social and emotional development. "

Strange Situation Procedure

aged between 12 and 18 months..

lasting approximately 3 minutes each:

(1) Mother, baby, and experimenter (lasts less than one minute).

(2) Mother and baby alone.

(3) A stranger joins the 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.

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four interaction behaviors directed toward the mother in the two reunion episodes (Ep. 5 & Ep. 8).

Proximity and contacting seeking

Contact maintaining

Avoidance of proximity and contact

Resistance to contact and comforting

The observer notes down the behavior displayed during 15-second intervals and scores the behavior for intensity on a scale of 1 to 7.

Other behaviors observed included:

Exploratory behaviors e.g., moving around the room, playing with toys, looking around the room.

Search behaviors, e.g., following mother to the door, banging on the door, orienting to the door, looking at the door, going to mother’s empty chair, looking at mother’s empty chair.

Affect Displays negative, e.g., crying, smiling.

B: Secure Attachment

explores freely with a care giver present

engages with strangers

visibly upset when the caregiver departs

genuinely happy when the caregiver returns

Parents respond to the child's needs

A: Anxious ambivalent

explores less

wary of strangers, even when the parent is present

distressed with the absent caregiver

displays anger ( resistant) or helplessness ( passive )

A caregiver who is insensitive and rejecting of their needs , withdraws from helping during difficult tasks