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The Strange Situation Ainsworth et…
The Strange Situation
Ainsworth et al 1978
Procedure:
The caregiver takes infant to lab, leaves the baby to explore
Testing exploration and a secure base
A stranger comes in and tries to interact with the infant
Testing stranger anxiety
Caregiver leaves infant and stranger together
Testing separation and stranger anxiety
Caregiver returns and the stranger leaves
Testing reunion behaviour and a secure base
Caregiver leaves the child alone again
Testing separation anxiety
Stranger returns
Testing stranger anxiety
Caregiver returns, reunites with child
Testing reunion behaviour
Findings:
Securely attached = 70%
Insecure avoidant = 20%
Insecure resistant = 10%
Classifications:
Secure B
High - willingness to explore + stranger anxiety
Some - separation anxiety (easy to soothe)
Enthusiastic - reunion behaviour
Sensitive - caregiver behaviour
Insecure avoidant A
High - willingness to explore
Low - stranger anxiety
Indifference - caregiver behaviour + separation anxiety
Avoid/ignore - reunion behaviour
Insecure resistant C
Low - willingness to explore
High - stranger + separation anxiety
Seeks + rejects - reunion behaviour
Ambivalent - caregiver behaviour
Evaluation:
S - Attachment type strongly predicts later development (love quiz)
S - Good inter-rater reliability (observers agree due to controlled conditions and good behavioural categories)
W - Created + tested in US, cultural bound?
W - Takahashi replication = very high levels of separation anxiety, every culture is different
W - Main + Soloman added fourth attachment type called disorganised attachment