Evaluation of The Strange Situation

Evaluation of Mary Ainsworth's Strange Situation:

• Methodology
  this study provides a good measure of attachment that differentiates between attachment types, it clearly indicates that attachment type predicts later social and emotional development. Secure attachment is the preffered type in terms of social and emotional development - this predictive validity is demonstrated by Sroufe who found securely attached children were more popular at school. This research supports the validity of the classification of attachment identified by Ainsworth.
• Validity
  It can be criticised for lacking ecological validity. The strange situation was a controlled observation and so an artificial approach to studying attachment which does not reflect real situations, also internal validity can be questioned as mother may have experienced evaluation apprehension because she knew her child and her parenting were being…