strange situation

• Procedure of strange situation:

  • the study for measuring and assessing quality of attachment
  • developed by Mary Ainsworth
  • standardised procedure
  • infants between 9-18 months (American sample)
  • observation in controlled environment
  • series of 3 minute episodes
• what is tested in the stages of strange situation

  1. nothing specific
  2. willingness to explore
  3. stranger anxiety
  4. separation anxiety
  5. reunion behaviour
  6. separation anxiety
  7. stranger anxiety
  8. reunion behaviour
• who is in the room in the stages of strange situation

  1. researcher , parent , baby
  2. parent , baby
  3. stranger , parent , baby
  4. stranger , baby
  5. parent , baby
  6. baby
  7. stranger , baby
  8. parent , baby
• Secure behaviour from Ainsworths study

  • 70% of infants
  • moderate willingness to explore
  • return to mother in regular intervals, acting as a safe base
  • moderate separation anxiety
  • moderate stranger anxiety
  • shows joy on reunion
• Insecure avoidant behaviour from Ainsworths study

  • 15% of infants
  • high willingness to explore
  • low separation anxiety
  • low stranger anxiety
  • shows no to little joy on reunion
• Insecure resistant behaviour from Ainsworths study

  • 15% of infants
  • low willingness to explore
  • high separation anxiety
  • high stranger anxiety
  • wants comfort but is angry and resists comfort
• Evaluations of strange situation

  🙂 high reliability

  ☹️ low ecological validity

  ☹️ cultural bias

  ☹️ ethical issues