Attachment in children

In the Strange Situation Test ( FST) or even strangers situation mentioned test (english: "Strange Situation Test") is a 1970 by Mary Ainsworth developed developmental psychological experiment, a relationship between the child and parent with respect to the criteria John Bowlby designed to test for a secure bond.

Mary Ainsworth to make Bowlby binding model observable in a standardized situation succeeded. For this, they devised an experimental test situation. In this situation, find 12 to 18 months old children the typical conditions that activate according to Bowlby's theory, both binding and Exploratory behavior in an approximately natural situation. Wherein differences in the binding and exploration behavior can be observed.

Experimental setup

The test is performed in a room whose floor is divided to facilitate distance measurements in black and white squares. The test observer can see the subjects and hear, but not vice versa.

Subjects: infants ( male / female ), between 12 and 18 months

Helpers: mothers (up to 2 women everything housewife mothers) and strange woman (Assistant )

Test procedure

The process is recorded with a video camera and then evaluated. Object of study is primarily the child's reaction to separation and reunion moments to determine individual differences in coping with separation stress.

Results

When Strange Situation test the basic statements of attachment theory could be confirmed. In the studies that have been carried out in various forms of society, there are four basic binding qualities of the children showed. First, the children could be divided into certain and uncertain bound -bound children. Later, further showed the uncertain bound distinctions.

  • Sure bound children
  • Insecure -avoidant attached children ( " avoidant " )
  • Uncertainty ambivalently attached children ( " ambivalent " )
  • Children with disorganized patterns of behavior

The disorganized attachment was subsequently introduced because several children were not reliably associate.

See also: Child's bond types

Causes of different binding

The interaction behavior between child and attachment figure (usually the mother) is crucial for the development of secure attachment. This means that the binding sensitive person, the signals of the child notice applicable interpret and must respond appropriately and promptly forward to establish a secure bond. If these requirements are not met by the attachment figure, then the probability for the formation of an insecure ( ambivalent, avoidant or disorganized ) binding pattern increases the child.

Follow-up studies

Grossmann & Grossmann (1980, University of Bielefeld )

  • Subjects: 46 children ( in children aged 12 months to lead the FST to the mother by, among children aged 18 months, however, with the Father. )
  • Question: Can the child also to two people to create a secure bond (B- bond)?
  • Result:

Main / Cassidy (1988/1985)

In this experiment the game behavior and strategies were investigated to resolve conflicts with peers. It was also spoken to the children about a family photo and fictitious separation situations.

  • Subjects: 5 to 6 -year-old kindergarten children who were previously tested at the age of 12 and 18 months with mother and father.
  • Question: If the binding behavior until the age and beyond, consistent and unchanged?
  • Result:
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