Types of attachment

Types of Attachment

The Strange Situation

This was used to test the nature of attachment. 

Aims

 To see how infants aged between 9-18 months behave under conditions of mild stress. Stress is created by the presence of a stranger and by separation from a caregiver. This tests stranger anxiety and separation anxiety. The Strange Situation also aims to encourage the infant to explore the new environment, testing the secure base concept. 

Procedures

The procedures consisted of 8 episodes, each designed to highlight certain behaviours.

1. Parent and infant play

2. Parent sits while infant plays - use of the parent as a secure base

3. Stranger enters and talks to parent - stranger anxiety

4. Parent leaves, infant plays, stranger offers comfort if needed - separation anxiety

5. Parent returns, greets infant, offers comfort if needed; stranger leaves - reunion behavior

6. Parent leaves, infant is alone - separation anxiety

7. Strangers enters, offers comfort - stranger anxiety

8. Parent returns, greets infant, offers comfort - reunion behaviour 

Data was collected by a group of observers who record what the infant is doing every 15 seconds. Observers note down which of the behaviours is being displayed and scores the intensity of the behaviour. 

Findings

Ainsworth et al (1978…