Strange situation

• what is the strange situation

  a controlled observation to test attachment security
• what was the procedure of the strange situation

  it was a controlled observation in a lab with a two way mirror so psychologist can observe the behaviour
• what is proximity seeking


  a baby with good attachment will stay close to their caregiver
• what is stranger anxiety

  display of high stress when a stranger enters
• what is separation anxiety

  display of high stress when they are separated from their caregiver
• what is secure attachment

  • this is type B.
  • they explore happily but regularly go back to their caregivers for comfort.
  • they will show moderate separation and stranger anxiety
  • they accept comfort from the caregiver in the reunion stage.
• what is insecure avoidant attachment

  • this is type A.
  • the babies explore freely but don't seek proximity from their caregivers.
  • they show little distress when the care giver leaves and little stranger anxiety.
  • they make little effort to make contact when the caregiver returns
• what is insecure resistance attachment


  • this is type C.
  • the babies seek a lot of proximity and explore less.
  • they show high levels of stranger and separation anxiety.
  • resist comfort when the caregiver comes back.
• what percentage of the population are securely attached

  60-75%
• what percentage are insecure avoidant attached

  20-25%
• what percentage are insecure resistant

  3%
• good control of variables


  • due to this study being done in a lab
  • it eliminates the effect of confounding or extraneous variables.
  • good internal validity
• good inter rater reliability


  • the strange situation had multiple observers observe the babies.
  • found agreement type for 94% of the babies attachment style.
  • this is a reliable experiment
• culture bound


  • this study was only done on American mothers and babies.
  • not taking account collectivist cultures.
  • for example this would not work in Japan = show high levels of separation anxiety but in that culture it is normal
• low ecological validity


  • due to it being done in a lab
  • it does not have good ecological validity.
  • it was not done in an everyday environment so the babies could have been more stressed than normal