Ainsworths Strange Situation (Attachment)

Question 1

What was the aim of Ainsworth strange situation

Answer 1

To observe key attachment behaviours and assess the quality of a baby’s attachment to a caregiver

Question 2

Explain the method

Answer 2

-Used 4 criteria to classify 100 middle class americans infants into 1 of 3 categories
-Children was observed through a one way mirror

Question 3

What are the seven steps and what do they test

Answer 3

1) caregiver encourages baby to explore
1b) tests exploration/secure base

2) stranger enters, talks to caregiver and approaches the baby
2b) tests stranger anxiety

3) caregiver leaves the baby and stranger together
3b)tests separation and stranger anxiety

4)caregiver returns and stranger leaves
4b) tests reunion behaviour and exploration/secure base

5)caregiver leaves baby alone
5b) tests separation anxiety

6)the stranger returns
6b)tests stranger anxiety

7)caregiver returns and is reunited with baby
7b) tests reunion behaviour

Question 4

What was the three behaviours that they observed and what were the percentages

Answer 4

Insecure avoidant - 15%
Secure - 70%
Insecure resistant - 15%

Question 5

Explain insecure avoidant

Answer 5

-Explores freely without bothering where mum is
-Is not at all upset when mum goes
-Not bothered by the stranger
-Not bothered when mum comes back

Question 6

Explain secure behaviour

Answer 6

-Explores happily while keeping an eye on mum
-Is moderately upset when mum goes
-A little wary of the stranger
-Is readily comforted by mum when she returns

Question 7

Explore insecure resistant

Answer 7

-Does not explore very much, keeps very near mum
-Is extremely upset when mum goes
-Does not like the stranger at all
-Is cross with mum on return and not easily comforted

Question 8

What are the strengths

Answer 8

Good predictive validity -
One strength of attachment research, particularly the Strange Situation, is that it has good predictive validity.

Evidence:
Studies have shown that children classified as securely attached in the Strange Situation tend to have better outcomes later in life—for example, they perform better in school and are less likely to be bullied. In contrast, children with insecure attachments are more likely to experience difficulties such as poor academic achievement or mental health issues like depression.

Explanation:
This supports the idea that early attachment experiences, as measured by the Strange Situation, are useful in predicting future emotional and social development.

Link:
Therefore, the strong predictive validity of the Strange Situation increases its value as a tool for understanding the long-term impact of early attachment.
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reliable
Another strength of the Strange Situation is that it has high inter-rater reliability.

Evidence:
Bick et al. (2012) found that different observers watching the same Strange Situation recordings agreed on attachment classifications in 94% of cases.

Explanation:
This high level of agreement shows that the procedure produces consistent results and that attachment behaviours are clearly observable and measurable.

Link:
Therefore, the Strange Situation is a highly reliable method for assessing attachment types, which strengthens the credibility of its finding meaning the results can be used confidently in real-world settings, like education, social care

Question 9

What are the weaknesses

Answer 9

too simplistic
One limitation of Ainsworth’s Strange Situation is that it may be too simplistic in its classification of attachment types.

Evidence:
Solomon et al. (1986) identified a fourth attachment type—Type D, or disorganised attachment—which includes behaviours that are a mix of avoidant and resistant.

Explanation:
This suggests that Ainsworth’s original three-category system (secure, insecure-avoidant, insecure-resistant) does not account for all individual differences in attachment, particularly in children who have experienced trauma or inconsistent caregiving.

Link:
Therefore, the Strange Situation may lack validity as a complete measure of attachment, as it overlooks more complex or atypical patterns of behaviour.
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culture bias
A limitation of the Strange Situation is that it may be culture-bound

Evidence:
Takahashi (1990) conducted the Strange Situation in Japan and found that many infants showed extreme separation anxiety, and the observation had to be stopped early in some cases.

Explanation:
This behaviour might not indicate insecure attachment, but instead reflect Japanese child-rearing practices, where infants are rarely separated from their mothers. As a result, the Strange Situation may wrongly classify securely attached infants as insecure in cultures where separation is uncommon.

Link:
Therefore, the Strange Situation may not be a valid tool for measuring attachment across different cultures, limiting its generalisability and cultural relevance lead to - ethnocentrism