Ainsworth - Strange Situation

• Ainsworth's Strange Situation Test also revealed that securely attached children are more likely to explore new environments compared to insecurely attached children who cling onto their mothers.
• Evaluation

  • Ainsworth's strange situation was criticised as it only studied middle class mothers who may have been more responsive than working class mothers.
• Method

  • controlled observation.
  • 12-18 month old infants left in room with mother
  • Eight different scenarios occurred, some were:
  • infant being approached by stranger
  • infant being left alone
  • mother returning
• Results

  • Insecure avoidant (type A): 15% of infants - ignored mother + didn't mind if she left. strange could comfort them
  • secure-resistant (type B): 70% - content with mother, upset when she left and happy when she retuned
  • insecure resistant (type C) - uneasy around mother and upset if she left. resisted strangers and hard comfort when mother returned
• Conclusion

  • infants showing different reaction to their carers have different types of attachment
• Evaluation

  • reliable data - had control of variables because it was a controlled observation
  • lack of ecological validity - labatory-type situation made the study artificial
  • 'screw you affect'/social desirability - parents want to put their children in the best light so lie about childs behaviour
  • in a new situation - may not accurately represent infants behavour in real life