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Strange Situation - Coggle Diagram
Strange Situation
Evaluation
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(-) Strange Situation does not measure attachment: genetically influenced anxiety levels could account for variations in attachment behaviour
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(-) Cultural Bias: Takashi found different results - may not be valid to use in countries other than America
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(-) Temperament may be a confounding variable: temperament of a child is more important on attachment type
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(-) Focus on the mother as PAF: Infants behave differently depending on which parent they are with - may not be a valid measure of attachment
(-) Research suggests that there is a fourth category - Type D: Tends to show inconsistent, confused, indecisive, disoriented behaviour as well as stereotypical signs of distress
Ainsworth
Aim: To investigate key attachment behaviours as a means of assessing the quality of a child's attachment to a caregiver
Method: 100 middle class American Infants - controlled observation procedure which takes place with a two-way mirror. There was 8 stages, each lasting 3 mins. they involved the infant being alone with the mother, the infant with the mother and a stranger, the infant alone with stranger, or infant by themselves.
Behaviour categories: Safe-base behaviour: how close they stay to caregiver. Separation behaviour: response when left room. Stranger Anxiety: response when stranger in the room. Reunion behaviour: response when returned into the room
Findings: Type B (securely attached) - 66%; Type A (insecure avoidant) - 22%; Type C (insecure resistant) - 12%
Conclusion: There is a clear association between the mothers behaviour and the infants attachment type, which has been termed the 'caregiver sensitivity hypothesis'
Types
Secure attachment (Type B): stay fairly close, wary of stranger, shows some distress with separation and is easily comforted on reunion.
Insecure-avoidant (Type A): move relatively far away from caregiver, very low stranger anxiety, unconcerned when caregiver leaves room, avoid contact on return
Insecure-Resistant (Type C): Stay close and in physical contact with caregiver, extremely distressed when caregiver leaves, very high stranger anxiety, seek physical contact with their caregiver on their return - reject all attempts of comfort.
Caregiver Sensitivity Hypothesis: Child's attachment type is dependent on the behaviour their mother shows towards them