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Advantages
- Different observers watching the same children generally agree on attachment type. Bick et al. (2012) found 94% agreement in one team.This may be because the Strange Situation takes place under controlled conditions and because the behavioural categories are easy to observe.So we can be confident that the attachment type of an infant identified in the Strange Situation does not just depend on who is observing them.
- THERE Is PREDICTIVE VALIDITY Attachment type predicts later development.For example, secure babies typically have greater success at school and more lasting romantic relationships.In contrast, insecure-resistant attachment is associated with the worst outcomes, e.g. bullying (Kokkinos 2007) and adult mental health problems (Ward et al. 2006).This is evidence for the validity of the concept because it can explain future outcomes.
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Disadvantages
- culture-bound test. The test might not have the same meaning in countries outside Western Europe and the USA.Cultural differences in children's experiences mean they respond differently. Also caregivers from different cultures behave differently.Takahashi (1990) notes that Japanese mothers are rarely separated from infants, thus the infants show high levels of separation anxiety.
- THERE MAY BE OTHER ATTACHMENT TYPES Ainsworth identified three attachment types: insecure-avoidant (A), secure (B), and insecure-resistant (C).Main and Solomon (1986) pointed out that some children display atypical attachments that do not fit types A, B or C.This is disorganised attachment - a mix of avoidant and resistant behaviours.This challenges Ainsworth's initial notion of attachment types and could question whether the Strange Situation is a useful method to identify these types.
- TEMPERAMENT MAY BE A CONFOUNDING VARIABLE Ainsworth assumed that the main influence on separation and stranger anxiety was the quality of the attachment.But Kagan (1982) suggests that temperament (the child's genetically influenced personality) is a more important influence on behaviour in the Strange Situation.This challenges the validity of the Strange Situation because its intention is to measure the quality of attachment, not the temperament of the child (i.e. a confounding variable).
- Some studies have found low correlation between maternal sensitivity and the strength of attahcment. (Slade et al 2005)found that maternal reflective functioning (the ability to understand what someone else is thinking and feeling) was more important.
- Low internal validity May not measure the attachment types but instead the quality of the relationship. ( Main and Weston 1981)found that attachment type changed with the parent suggest classification of an attachment type may not be valid as measuring only one type of relationship rather than a personal characteristic lodged in the individual.
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