*3b.3 study: Strange situation to measure attachment (Ainsworth, 1978)

Aim

To observe and measure the quality of attachment between a child and their primary care giver

Method

1. Mother, baby and experimenter (<1 minute)

2. Mother and baby alone

3. Stranger joins the mother and infant

4. Mother leaves baby and stranger alone

5. Mother returns and stranger leaves

6. Mother leaves infant completely alone

7. Stranger returns

8. Mother returns and stranger leaves

Key Findings

• Secure attachment

• Insecure- avoidant attachment

• Insecure- resistant attachment

• Association between mother’s behaviour and infant’s attachment type

• Suggests that the mothers behaviour may help to determine the attachment type

Contribution

• Understanding the development of attachment relationships

• Understanding of the importance of early experiences in shaping long-term social and emotional outcomes

• Inform inventions and policies

• Further research on psychological and social factors

Criticisms

• Too focused on maternal caregiving

• Laboratory based

• May vary across cultural settings

• Too focused on the negative consequences

Type A

Avoidant

Separation Anxiety:

• no sign of distress when the mother leaves

Stranger Anxiety:

• the infant is okay with the stranger and plays normally when the stranger is present

Reunion Behaviour:

• infant shows little interest when the mother returns

Other:

• the mother and stranger are able to comfort the infant really well

%: 15%

Type B

Secure

Separation Anxiety:

• distressed when mother leaves

Stranger Anxiety:

• avoidant of stranger when alone, but friendly when the mother is present

Reunion Behaviour:

• Positive and happy when mother returns

Other:

• uses the mother as a safe base to explore their environment

%: 70%

Type C

Resistant

Separation Anxiety:

• intense distress when mother leaves

Stranger Anxiety:

• infant avoids the stranger/ shows fear of the stranger

Reunion Behaviour:

• infant approaches mother, but resists contact, may even push her away

Other:

• infant cries more and explores less than other types

%: 15%

findings about cross-cultural patterns of attachment according to van Ijzendoorn and Kroonenberg (1988)

Type A:

• Relatively more common in Western European countries

Type B:

• Most common in all countries

Type C:

• More common in countries such as Japan