Types of attachment: Ainsworth's 'Strange Situation'

Procedure:

1. The baby is encouraged to explore.

2. A stranger comes in, talks to the caregiver and approaches the baby.

3. The caregiver leaves the baby and stranger together.

4. The caregiver returns and the stranger leaves.

5. The caregiver leaves the baby alone.

6. The stranger returns.

7. The caregiver returns and is reunited with the baby.

Exploration and secure-base:

Exploration but use of caregiver as a secure base. Present on exploration encouragement and when caregiver first returns.

Stranger anxiety:

Stress around strangers. Present when the stranger is there.

Separation anxiety:

Stress when away from caregiver. Present when the caregiver leaves.

Response to reunion:

Seeking comfort on caregiver return. Present on caregiver returning.

Secure attachment:

Good exploration and secure-base

Moderate separation and stranger anxiety

Accept comfort on reunion

60-75%

Insecure-avoidant attachment:

No secure-base

Little separation and stranger anxiety

Little effort on reunion

20-25%

Insecure-resistant attachment:

Low exploration, reliance on secure-base

High separation and stranger anxiety

Resist comfort on reunion

3%

Good control of variables

Due to this study being done in a lab, it eliminates the effect of confounding or extraneous variables. Good internal validity.

Good inter rater reliability

Multiple observers observe the babies. 94% agreement of baby attachment style. Reliable experiment.

Culture bound

Only done on American mothers and babies. not taking account collectivist cultures. For example this would not work in Japan as babies are separated more from their mothers leading to high levels of separation anxiety but in that culture it is normal.