Overview
This lecture covers Ainsworth and Bell's Strange Situation experiment, focusing on how children's attachment types can be observed through their reactions to separation and reunion with their mothers.
The Strange Situation Experiment
- The Strange Situation is a controlled lab experiment to observe attachment in children.
- Conducted by Ainsworth and Bell, it measures a child's behavior when left with a stranger after the mother departs.
- The experiment room contained toys and was observed through a window.
- The procedure involved eight steps, including the introduction of a stranger, separations, reunions, and observing the child alone.
Key Steps in the Procedure
- Mother and child enter and play together.
- A stranger enters, then the mother leaves, leaving the child with the stranger.
- Stranger encourages play; mother returns to comfort the distressed child.
- Both mother and stranger leave the child alone; the child becomes distressed.
- Stranger returns, then mother returns to comfort the child.
Types of Attachment
- Children were classified based on their responses to separation and reunion.
- Three main attachment types were identified:
- Type A: Insecure avoidant (25%)—little distress at separation; avoids mother upon return.
- Type B: Secure (60%)—explores environment, becomes distressed when separated, warmly greets mother on return.
- Type C: Insecure resistant (15%)—anxious during exploration, highly distressed at separation, unsure about approaching mother on return.
Evaluation of the Strange Situation
- The experiment is replicable due to its standardized procedure.
- Subjective judgment can affect attachment classification, leading to issues with inter-observer reliability.
- Attachment styles may change over time, reducing predictive reliability.
- Only measured mother-child relationships; may not reflect attachment to other caregivers.
- Study involved only American participants, limiting generalization to other cultures.
Key Terms & Definitions
- Attachment — an emotional bond between a child and caregiver.
- Insecure avoidant (Type A) — child avoids caregiver after separation.
- Secure attachment (Type B) — child is distressed by separation but easily comforted upon reunion.
- Insecure resistant (Type C) — child shows extreme distress and ambivalence at reunion.
- Inter-observer reliability — consistency among different observers' assessments.
Action Items / Next Steps
- Attempt the provided questions on the Strange Situation on a separate sheet.
- Prepare for the next lesson on the development of attachments.