Ainsworth's Strange Situation

• The Strange Situation Ainsworth (1969)

  Procedure

  A controlled observation procedure designed to measure the security of attachment a child displays towards a caregiver. Takes place in a laboratory (controlled conditions) w/ a two-way mirror through which the psychologists can observe the infant's behaviour.

  Behaviours used to judge attachment:

  • proximity seeking
  • exploration and secure-base behaviour
  • stranger anxiety
  • separation anxiety (protest)
  • Response to reunion (after short period of time under controlled conditions)

  Procedure has 7 episodes, each last 3 mins (table)
• The Strange Situation


  Findings

  Ainsworth et al. (1978) found that there were distinct patterns in the way infants behaved. She identified 3 main types of attachment:

  • Secure attachment (Type B)- explore happily but regularly go back to caregiver (proximity seeking and secure-base behaviour). Show moderate separation distress and stranger anxiety. Accept comfort from caregiver in reunion stage. 60-75% British toddlers are classified as secure.
• The Strange Situation


  Findings

  Ainsworth et al. (1978) found that there were distinct patterns in the way infants behaved. She identified 3 main types of attachment:

  • Insecure-avoidant attachment (Type A)- explore freely but don't seek proximity or show secure base behaviour. Little/no reaction when caregiver leaves and makes little effort to make contact when they return. Show little stranger anxiety. Don't require comfort at reunion stage. About 20-25% are classified as insecure-avoidant.
• The Strange Situation

  Findings

  Ainsworth et al. (1978) found that there were distinct patterns in the way infants behaved. She identified 3 main types of attachment:

  • Insecure-resistant attachment (Type C)- seek greater proximity and explore less. They show huge stranger and separation distress but resist comfort when reunited w/ carer. Around 3% are classified as insecure-resistant.
• Ainsworth’s Strange Situation- evaluation

  Attachment types defined are strongly predictive of later development. Babies assessed as secure typically go on to have better outcomes in many areas, ranging from success at school to romantic relationships and friendships in adulthood. Insecure-resistant associated w/ worse outcomes including bullying and adult mental health problems. Evidence for validity of concept cos can explain subsequent outcomes.
• Ainsworth’s Strange Situation- evaluation 2

  Shows very good inter-rater reliability. Diff observers watching same children generally agree on what attachment to classifying them w/. Bick et al. (2012) found agreement for 94% of tested babies. May be cos takes place under controlled conditions. Means we can be confident that attachment type of infant identified by SS doesn't depend on observer.
• Ainsworth’s Strange Situation- evaluation 3

  Test may be culture-bound. Cultural differences in childhood experiences are likely to mean that children respond diff to SS and caregivers from diff cultures behave diff in SS. Takahashi (1990) noted test doesn't really work in Japan cos Japanese mothers are so rarely separated from their babies that there are high levels of separation anxiety. Also at reunion stage, Japanese mothers rushed to baby and scooped them up, meaning child's response was hard to observe.