AO3

• Strength:

  • A strength of the Strange Situation is its good inter-rater reliability.
  • For instance, Bick found 94% agreement on attachment types among trained observers using the Strange Situation procedure.
  • This high reliability is due to the controlled conditions, making behaviors easy to observe and classifications less subjective.
  • This supports the Strange Situation as a reliable and valid method for assessing attachment types.
• Strength:

  • A strength of research into types of attachment is its good predictive validity.
  • For example, secure attachment in infancy is linked to better outcomes later in life, such as academic success and healthy relationships, while insecure-resistant attachment is associated with negative outcomes like bullying and mental health issues.
  • This shows that attachment types have validity and practical applications, as they effectively predict future behaviour and development.
• Weakness:

  • A weakness of the Strange Situation is that it may not be a valid measure of attachment across different cultures.
  • For example, Takahashi found Japanese babies displayed high separation anxiety, leading many to be classified as insecure-resistant. This is because in Japanese culture, mother-infant separation is rare, unlike in Western contexts where the SS was developed.
  • This suggests the SS has limited validity outside Western cultures, causing other cultures to be misinterpreted, highlighting culture bias.