In devising the ‘strange situation’ task in 1965, Mary Ainsworth created a fairly easily replicable experiment that enabled researchers to determine the quality of infant’s attachment to a primary caregiver. Despite some issues with the task, such as whether the results are reliable given the unusual circumstances (Lamb, 1977), Ainsworth’s experiments have provided researchers with vast amounts of data and a method that is still being used and analysed today.
In the strange situation task, infants were observed over a short period of time experiencing several separations and reunions with their parent, and being left alone either with a stranger or by themselves. Experimenters were specifically looking for the behaviours displayed by the infant …show more content…
Matas et al. (1978, ibid) found similar results, in that two year olds who were securely attached during the test were more likely to be enthusiastic, more cooperative and show better problem-solving skills than their insecurely attached peers. Researchers such as Jacobsen and Hofmann found in their 1997 studies that securely attached children were more active and confident in classroom participation at the ages of nine, 12 and 15. In the same studies, children showing insecure attachment at an early age have been reported to display behaviours associated with social incompetence, such as attempting to present themselves as perfect or having a less secure sense of self (Cassidy, 1988, as cited in Parke & Gauvain, 2009). A positive sense of self is crucial in developing healthy relationships throughout the course of a lifetime. If allowed to continue, behaviours associated with insecure attachment can worsen over time and lead to problems in romantic and social relationships. Bowlby (1973) stated that early attachment relationships lead to the creation of an ‘internal working model’ which then determines how people connect and interact with others throughout their life. Children who view the world negatively due to early insecure attachments can approach situations hesitantly, seeing interactions as hostile and performing at a lower level due to their negative internal working model (Bretherton, Ridgeway & Cassidy, 1990; Main, 1995b). It has been found that insecurely attached people have lower self-esteem, view themselves as less worthy of love and are less likely to view others as able to comfort them in times of distress (Monti & Rudolph, 2014). As adults, insecure-avoidant individuals continue to display avoidant behaviours, seeming uncomfortable with
In the strange situation task, infants were observed over a short period of time experiencing several separations and reunions with their parent, and being left alone either with a stranger or by themselves. Experimenters were specifically looking for the behaviours displayed by the infant …show more content…
Matas et al. (1978, ibid) found similar results, in that two year olds who were securely attached during the test were more likely to be enthusiastic, more cooperative and show better problem-solving skills than their insecurely attached peers. Researchers such as Jacobsen and Hofmann found in their 1997 studies that securely attached children were more active and confident in classroom participation at the ages of nine, 12 and 15. In the same studies, children showing insecure attachment at an early age have been reported to display behaviours associated with social incompetence, such as attempting to present themselves as perfect or having a less secure sense of self (Cassidy, 1988, as cited in Parke & Gauvain, 2009). A positive sense of self is crucial in developing healthy relationships throughout the course of a lifetime. If allowed to continue, behaviours associated with insecure attachment can worsen over time and lead to problems in romantic and social relationships. Bowlby (1973) stated that early attachment relationships lead to the creation of an ‘internal working model’ which then determines how people connect and interact with others throughout their life. Children who view the world negatively due to early insecure attachments can approach situations hesitantly, seeing interactions as hostile and performing at a lower level due to their negative internal working model (Bretherton, Ridgeway & Cassidy, 1990; Main, 1995b). It has been found that insecurely attached people have lower self-esteem, view themselves as less worthy of love and are less likely to view others as able to comfort them in times of distress (Monti & Rudolph, 2014). As adults, insecure-avoidant individuals continue to display avoidant behaviours, seeming uncomfortable with