ainsworth strange situation

• Strength predicts number of aspects  babies' later life. Large body research babies assessed at secure have good achievement in school and better mental health as an adult and less involvement in bullying McCormick 2015 and Ward 2006. Babies who are insecure resistant have the worst outcomes. Suggests measure something real and meaningful in babies development. However, not all psychologists believe something is attachment. Kagan 1982 suggested that genetically influenced anxiety levels could affect attachment behaviour. Means not measuring anything.
• Strength good inter rater reliability. Bick 2012 trained observers found agreement on  attachment type 94%. High level reliability as controlled conditions and involve large movements easy to observe. Anxious babies cry and crawl away from strangers. Means confident that attachment type doesn’t depend on subjective judgements.
• Limitation is that it is culturally bound to be developed in Britain and US only valid for certain cultures. One reason babies have different experiences in different cultures which may affect responses. Takahashi 1986 babies' high levels of separation anxiety disproportionate classed as insecure resistance suggests due to nature of Japan's mother and baby separation rate for the first few years. Means difficult to know what to study when outside of Europe and US.
• Procedure

  Controlled observation that was designed to measure security of attachment bay displays to caregivers. Used a two way mirror each session lasted 3 minutes. Behaviours used to assess attachment is:

  • Proximity seeking 
  • Exploration and secure base behaviour
  • Stranger anxiety
  • Separation anxiety
  • Response to reunion
• Securely attached babies explore happily and go back to parents regularly usually show moderate separation distress and stranger anxiety and they require comfort at reunion 60-75% british babies.
• Insecure avoidant babies explore freely but do not have secure base behaviour, little to no reaction for when caregiver leaves or stranger anxiety, make little effort to contact when reunion 20-25% british babies.

  Insecure resistant have exploration but go to caregivers frequently show high levels distress at separation and stranger anxiety and resist comfort and reunion 3% british babies.