Strange Situation Study Overview

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Questions and Answers

Name a study that shows secure and insecure attachment.

Ainsworth and Bell 1970, Strange Situation.

What was the aim of the Strange Situation study?

To assess the quality of attachment by placing children in situations of mild stress.

What was the procedure of the Strange Situation study?

100 middle class American mothers and children, observing infants and their mothers during certain activities.

What behaviours did they observe specifically in the Strange Situation? (List 4 behaviours)

<ol> <li>Separation anxiety. 2. The infant's willingness to explore. 3. Stranger anxiety. 4. Reunion behaviour.</li> </ol> Signup and view all the answers

What were the findings of the Strange Situation study?

66% Securely Attached, 22% Avoidant Insecure, 12% Resistant Insecure. Signup and view all the answers

What was the conclusion of the Strange Situation study?

There appears to be an association between the mother's behaviour and the child's attachment type. Signup and view all the answers

What are some negative points of the Strange Situation?

<ol> <li>Findings are restricted to middle-class American infants, culturally biased. 2. Distressing for both infant and caregiver. 3. Demand characteristics may affect mothers' behaviours. 4. Artificial environment for assessing attachment.</li> </ol> Signup and view all the answers

What are some positive points of the Strange Situation?

<ol> <li>Responses from the baby are natural. 2. Based on everyday life experiences.</li> </ol> Signup and view all the answers

What does it mean to be Securely Attached?

Children orientate towards the mother but are still willing to explore, upset when the caregiver leaves, have high stranger anxiety but are pleased when the caregiver returns. Signup and view all the answers

What does it mean to be Insecure Avoidant?

They did not orientate towards their mother, are not bothered when the caregiver leaves, and show little interest when the caregiver returns. Signup and view all the answers

What does it mean to be Insecure Resistant?

Children use the caregiver as a base but are unwilling to explore, distressed when the caregiver leaves, and reject the caregiver upon return. Signup and view all the answers

Name two studies that investigate the Strange Situation in different countries.

<ol> <li>Van Ijzendoorn and Kroonenberg (1988). 2. Takahashi (1990).</li> </ol> Signup and view all the answers

What study uses the Strange Situation to investigate secure and insecure attachment in children in different cultures?

Van Ijzendoorn and Kroonenberg (1988). Signup and view all the answers

What was the procedure of the study by Van Ijzendoorn and Kroonenberg?

Meta-analysis of 32 studies completed in 8 different countries to show cross-cultural variations in attachment. Signup and view all the answers

What were the findings of the study by Van Ijzendoorn and Kroonenberg?

Secure attachment was the most common type across cultures, with consistency showing all three attachment types. Signup and view all the answers

What were the conclusions of the study by Van Ijzendoorn and Kroonenberg?

Differences between cultures were often related to the child-rearing styles, with independence emphasized in German culture. Signup and view all the answers

What study assesses whether the Strange Situation is a valid procedure for cultures other than the original one?

Study of Japanese children by Takahashi (1990). Signup and view all the answers

What was the procedure for the Takahashi (1990) study?

Participants were 60 middle-class Japanese infants. Signup and view all the answers

Study Notes

Strange Situation Overview

Ainsworth and Bell conducted the Strange Situation study in 1970 to identify secure and insecure attachment types.
Aim: Assess attachment quality by placing children in mildly stressful situations.

Procedure

100 middle-class American mothers and their children were observed during specified activities.
Behaviors observed included:
- Separation anxiety
- Willingness to explore
- Stranger anxiety
- Reunion behavior

Key Findings

66% of infants were classified as securely attached.
22% were identified as avoidant insecure.
12% were classified as resistant insecure.

Conclusions

A correlation exists between a mother’s behavior and a child's attachment style.

Negative Aspects

Findings primarily relevant to middle-class American infants limit generalizability (cultural bias).
The experience can be distressing for both children and caregivers.
Demand characteristics may alter participant behavior due to awareness of being studied.
The test involves artificial interactions, as both caregiver and stranger follow a script.

Positive Aspects

Infant responses in the study are natural, as they do not distinguish the setting as artificial.
The study reflects real-life scenarios where parents leave children with strangers.

Attachment Styles

Securely Attached: Children explore but seek comfort from the caregiver; distressed upon separation and easily soothed during reunion.
Insecure Avoidant: Children do not orient towards caregivers; display indifference during separations and reunions, typical of unresponsive caregiving.
Insecure Resistant: Reluctant to explore; highly distressed on separation, displaying stranger anxiety without comfort during reunion, often related to inconsistent caregiving.

Cross-Cultural Studies

Van Ijzendoorn and Kroonenberg’s meta-analysis (1988) included 32 studies from 8 countries to explore cross-cultural attachment variations.
Findings indicated secure attachment was prevalent across cultures, with consistency in attachment types observed.

Cultural Conclusions

Cultural upbringing styles impact attachment classifications, such as independence expectations in German parenting contexts.

Validation Studies

The validity of the Strange Situation across cultures was assessed by Takahashi (1990) through a study of Japanese children.
The study involved 60 middle-class Japanese infants, combining both boys and girls, to analyze attachment behaviors.

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Description

Explore the pivotal Strange Situation study conducted by Ainsworth and Bell in 1970, aimed at understanding attachment styles in children. This quiz covers the study's procedure, key findings, and implications, as well as its limitations such as cultural bias and participant behavior. Test your knowledge of attachment theory!