Study of Attachment Theory and "Strange Situation"
Mrs. Ainsworth's theory of development, had a continuation of procedures that including observing and assessing the detailed quality of the attachment in a relationship between a caregiver and a child.
At the beginning of the procedure the child is being observed while playing for twenty minutes around in a room. The caregivers and strangers enter and leave the room, transitioning through the procedure the two dependent variables recreate sense of familiarity and unfamiliarity of an individuals memory for which most children live with. The sequence of events go as directed:
At the beginning of the procedure the child is being observed while playing for twenty minutes around in a room. The caregivers and strangers enter and leave the room, transitioning through the procedure the two dependent variables recreate sense of familiarity and unfamiliarity of an individuals memory for which most children live with. The sequence of events go as directed:
- Caregiver and infant are introduced to the experimental room.
- Caregiver and infant are left alone. Caregiver does not participate while infant plays and explores.
- Stranger enters, converses with parent, then approaches infant. Caregiver leaves inconspicuously.
- First separation episode: Stranger's adjusts his behavior to that of the infant.
- First reunion episode: Caregiver greets and comforts the infant, then leaves again.
- Second separation episode: Infant is left alone.
- Continuation of second separation episode: Stranger enters and again adjusts his behavior to that of the infant.
- Second reunion episode: Parent enters, greets infant, and picks up infant; stranger leaves inconspicuously.
Further Evaluation
During the experiment two aspects of the child's behavior are being observed: The first being the amount of exploration (e.g. playing with new toys) the child engages in during the time period. Secondly, the child's reactions to the departure and return of his caregiver.
Characterization of a child: On the way a child behaves gives an estimation on how he/she should be characterized. There are three groups in which a child can be placed in.
Secure-Attachment: When a child is secretly attached to their caregiver, who will show their full emotions and just continue on being themselves, even when others are unknown to them (strangers). Except the child will not come in contact with the stranger. The child will show that they are upset when their guardian exits and once the guardian is back show the excitement and happiness to see them.
Anxious-Ambivalent insecure Attachment: This child is anxious upon the exploration of the area and seeing other unknown strangers, even when the guardian of the child is present. When the caregiver exits the mood of the child becomes more distressed, but once the caregiver returns the child tends to come closer in a resentful manner.
Anxious-Avoidant Insecure Attachment: This type of child will close out the rest of society in the area, including the caregiver. The child tends to show zero emotion when the guardian leaves and comes back. Furthermore, the child does not even choose to explore the area around him/her. There is really no emotion presented throughout the child regardless of who enters the room, or if the child is left alone.
Characterization of a child: On the way a child behaves gives an estimation on how he/she should be characterized. There are three groups in which a child can be placed in.
Secure-Attachment: When a child is secretly attached to their caregiver, who will show their full emotions and just continue on being themselves, even when others are unknown to them (strangers). Except the child will not come in contact with the stranger. The child will show that they are upset when their guardian exits and once the guardian is back show the excitement and happiness to see them.
Anxious-Ambivalent insecure Attachment: This child is anxious upon the exploration of the area and seeing other unknown strangers, even when the guardian of the child is present. When the caregiver exits the mood of the child becomes more distressed, but once the caregiver returns the child tends to come closer in a resentful manner.
Anxious-Avoidant Insecure Attachment: This type of child will close out the rest of society in the area, including the caregiver. The child tends to show zero emotion when the guardian leaves and comes back. Furthermore, the child does not even choose to explore the area around him/her. There is really no emotion presented throughout the child regardless of who enters the room, or if the child is left alone.