measuring individual differences (SS)

• the strange situation

  Ainsworth & Bell

  1970
• the strange situation - AIM 


  to measure attachment of infants aged 12-18 months
• the SS - PROCEDURE


  -controlled observation

  -7 3-minute episodes

  -key behaviours were recorded
• strange situations 7 episodes 


  1 - caregiver & infant enter lab with toys & comfortable furniture

  2 - stranger joins

  3 - caregiver leaves

  4 - caregiver returns & stranger leaves

  5 - caregiver leaves

  6 - stranger returns

  7 - caregiver returns & stranger leaves
• key behaviours that were recorded

  -separation anxiety > unease felt by infant when caregiver leaves

  -infants willingness to explore

  -stranger anxiety > infant's response to stranger

  -reunion behaviour
• SS FINDINGS

  -3 types of attachment were identified

  -type A / avoidant (22%)

  -type B / securely attached (66%)

  -type C / resistant / ambivalent (12%)
• avoidant : type A


  -infant not concerned by mother's absence

  -avoids contact with her on reunion

  -doesn't prefer mother to stranger
• secure : type B


  -infant explores when mother present

  -pertured when mother leaves

  -quickly comforted when she returns

  -prefers mother to stranger

  -only type thought to lead to healthy emotional & social development
• resistant / ambivalent : type C


  -infant explores very little when mother present

  -wary of stranger

  -very upset when mother leaves

  -angry when mother returns, both seeking & rejecting contact
• the SS - CONCLUSION

  -there's individual differences in attachment

  -most American children securely attached

  -appears to be association between mothers' behaviour & attachment type

  -suggesting mother's behaviour determines attachment type