AO3

• support for validity

  P: attachment type as defined by the strange situation is strongly predictive of later development

  E: 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

  E: insecure resistant attachment is associated with the worst outcomes including bullying and adult mental health problems

  L: This is evidence for the validity of the concept because it can explain subsequent outcomes
• more than one attachment type

  P: Ainsworth conceived of 3 attachment types: insecure avoidant, secure and insecure resistant

  E: However Main and Solomon (1986) pointed out that a minority of children displayed atypical attachment that does not fall under type A, B or C

  E: This atypical attachment is commonly known as disorganised attachment

  L: Disorganised children often display an odd mix of insecure resistant/ avoidant attachment
• cultural bound

  P: the strange situation can be seen as a culture bound test

  E: cultural differences in childhood experiences are likely to mean that children respond differently to the strange situation

  E: for example Takashi (1990) noted the test doesn’t really work in Japan because mothers are rarely separated from their children so they are highly likely to show high separation anxiety

  L: This shows that babies respond differently dependent on the culture they grew up in