Ainsworth's strange situation

Ainsworth's strange situation

1. basics

   • aim = observe key attachment behaviours and their quality
     • procedure
       • controlled observation
       • two way mirror
       • PESSR - people eat smoked sausages regularly
         • proximity seeking
           • good attachment will stay fairly close to caregiver
         • exploration and secure base behaviour
           • good attachment = child wants to explore (caregiver is secure base)
         • stranger anxiety
           • anxiety to strangers
         • separation anxiety
           • protest to separation from caregiver
         • response reunion
           • positive response to caregiver returning
     • how it works
       • 1. the child is encourage to explore (exploration & secure base)
         • 2. stranger comes and interacts (stranger anxiety)
           • 3. caregiver leaves (separation & stranger anxiety)
             • 4. caregiver returns stranger leaves (reunion, exploration & secure base)
               • 5. caregiver leaves (separation anxiety)
                 • 6. stranger returns (stranger anxiety)
                   • 7. caregiver returns (reunion)
     • findings
       • types of attachment
         • secure attachment
           • happy to explore but return
           • moderate separation & stranger anxiety
           • accept comfort
         • insecure avoidant
           • freely explore don't return
           • no reaction when caregiver leaves or returns
           • no stranger anxiety
       • insecure resistant
         • need greater proximity - explore less
         • huge stranger & separation distress

2. evaluation

   • support for validity
     • support later development
       • secure - better outcomes in life
       • insecure resistant - worst outcomes
   • good reliability
     • inter rater reliability
       • different observers can watch and agree n the same attachments
         • due to controlled settings
         • due to behavioural categories
         • not just dependant on observer
   • the test may be culture bound
     • different for countries outside US & Western Europe
       • why?
         • cultural differences for kids
         • caregivers from different cultures behave differently
       • e.g. Japan
         • mother doesn't leave child
           • high separation anxiety

3. evaluation +

   • what does the strange situation measure
     • child's response to anxiety from an unfamiliar environment
       • is attachment the main cause of anxiety
         • is temperament (genetically influenced behaviour)
           • confounding variable?
   • at least one or more attachment type
     • some children don't fall into these categories
       • disorganised attachment
         • odd mix of resistant & avoidant behaviour