caregiver + baby in unfamiliar playroom - baby encouraged to explore
stranger enters - talks to the caregiver and baby
caregiver leaves the baby and the stranger
caregiver returns and the stranger leaves
caregiver leaves the baby alone
the stranger returns
the caregiver returns and is reunited with the baby
Strange situation - findings:
secure attachment (60-70%)- babies explore happily but regularly go back to their caregiver. Show moderate separation distress and moderate stranger anxiety. Require and accept comfort form caregiver in reunion stage.
Strange situation - findings:
Insecure-avoidant attachment (20-25%) - babies explore freely and don't seek proximity or show secure-base behaviour. Show no reaction when caregiver leaves and little stranger anxiety. Make little effort to make contact when caregiver returns (may avoid).
Strange situation - findings:
Insecure-resistant attachment (3%) - babies seek greater proximity and explore less. Show high levels of stranger and separation distress - resist comfort when reunited.
AO3 - strange situation: good predictive validity
A large body of research suggests babies with secure attachment have better outcomes than others (educational achievement, good mentalhealth). Those insecure-resistant attachments tend to have worst outcomes.
strange situation measures something real + meaningful
AO3 - strange situation: good inter-rater reliability
Bick: tested inter-rater reliability and found agreement on attachment type in 94% of cases. Procedure takes place under controlled conditions and behaviours are easy to observe. (anxious babies cry)
attachment type does not depend on subjective judgements.
AO3 - strange situation: culture-bound
Developed in Britain and the US. Babies have different experiences in different cultures that affect their responses to Strange situations. Takahashi - Japanese study shows a disproportionate number of children were insecure-resistant because it was unusual for babies to be separated from mothers.