The Strange Situation as a Measure of Attachment Type

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Recommended: Children and their attachment styles

The Strange Situation, in which infants are exposed to eight different

episodes involving the mother and/or a stranger, is widely used to

test attachments, although there are many different views regarding

its validity and reliability.

In order for the Strange Situation to be considered reliable, a child

tested at different times should produce the same reaction every time;

this was supported by Main, Kapland and Cassidy’s 1985 study which

found that 100% of infants who had been securely attached before 18

months were still securely attached at 6 years, and 75% of those who

had been anxious-avoidant remained so. One interpretation of

attachment type (based on the Strange Situation) is that it is a fixed

characteristic and therefore cannot be changed, but if there is a

change in family circumstances this is often not the case.

Attachments to mothers and fathers have been proven to be independent

– Main and Weston (1981) found that children reacted differently

depending on which parent they were with. This shows that the

attachment types shown by the Strange Situation are based on qualities

of distinct relationships as opposed to a child’s characteristics. The

Strange Situation places infants into one of three categories, however

Main and Solomon (1986) argued that a fourth attachment type, called

disorganized and disorientated, was displayed in a small number of

children. Their behaviour was a confusing mixture of approach and

avoidance, and they generally were unable to form a strategy to cope

with the Strange Situation.

There are also marked intercultural differences in the ways infants

react, as shown by Van Ijzendioorm and Kroonenburg (1998), who carried

out 32 studies worldwide. Overall, Type B (secure attachment) is

prevalent, but there is a higher proportion of type A in western

Europe, and of type C in Israel and Japan. One Japanese study also

showed a complete absence of type A.

If the Strange Situation is to be considered valid, infants who are

classified as securely attached should be better adjusted both

socially and emotionally in later life.

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