AO3 - Ainsworth's Strange Situation: Types of Attachment

• A criticism of Ainsworth’s research into attachment types, is that it lacks ecological validity. This is because the research takes place in a controlled environment (room with two way mirror). This makes it difficult to generalise the findings to real life attachment types as the infant may not behave how they usually do in their natural environment, e.g. they may explore the room less than they usually would or be even more scared of a stranger as they feel uncomfortable or shy in an unfamiliar environment. Therefore lowering the external validity of the research into attachment types.
• Ainsworth’s strange situation is praised for being high in reliability, this is because it was conducted in a controlled setting (room with two-way mirror) using a standardised procedure, for example each variable was assessed for 3 minute intervals, therefore the observation can be repeated again in the same conditions in order to check for consistent results into types of attachment, and has been carried out successfully in many different cultures.
• Research to support Ainsworth’s strange situation research was conducted by Van Izjendoorn and Kroonenberg. They replicated the strange situation in the USA and found consistent results to Ainsworth’s. 65% of infants were securely attached, 21% were insecure avoidant and 14% were insecure resistant. Providing support of the strange situation as a way of assessing attachment types.
• However, the strange situation tool used to measure attachment has been criticised for Imposed Etic. It is based on American child-rearing practices and ignores practices in other cultures. For example, in Germany, it is common practice for independence to be encouraged in infants, these infants may show and insecure-avoidant attachment type, but that would be desirable in this culture. Therefore, the Strange Situation may not be appropriate to measure attachments types in other cultures.