3.7 Strange Situation

3.7 Strange Situation

1. Ainsworth (1969)

   • Performed a controlled observation designed to measure the security of attachment. 5 behaviours were judged: proximity seeking, exploration, stranger and separation anxiety, and reunion.
   • 7 stages:
     • 1. Baby encouraged to explore.
     • 2. Stranger comes in and approaches the baby.
     • 3. Baby and stranger left alone.
     • 4. Caregiver returns
     • 5. Baby is left alone
     • 6. Stranger returns
     • 7. Reunion with caregiver
   • Findings: 3 Attachment types
     • A: Insecure Avoidant - Little to no reaction when caregiver leaves. Makes little effort and may avoid contact upon reunion.
       • 15%
     • B: Secure Attachment - Moderate separation distress and stranger anxiety. Requires and accepts comfort during reunion.
       • 70%
     • C: Insecure Resistant - Seeks greater levels of proximity, high levels of separation and stranger distress. Resists comfort when reunited with caregiver.
       • 15%

2. Evaluation

   • Strengths:
     • Interreliability between observers.
     • Predicts aspects of later development. Showed that securely attached babies had better later attachments. Suggests that strange situation measures something real.
   • Weaknesses:
     • May not be valid in other countries.
     • Lacks population validity. Original study used American infants which cant be generalised to other countries.