The Strange Situation
Mary Ainsworth conducted a study on one-hundred middle-class families, on children one to two years old. In this study, the a child, caregiver, and a stranger was used. This study showed the different types of anxieties and attachments of children.
At the beginning of the study, the child and caregiver are left alone in a room together, and they play. Then the caregiver sits down while the baby continues playing. After the caregiver has sat down, a stranger walks into the room and talks to the caregiver. The researchers observe reactions. Then the caregiver leaves, leaving the stranger to watch over the child and offer comfort if needed. Researchers observe and take note agaon.The parent then returns, and offers comfort if needed after greeting the baby, and then the stranger leaves the room, and researchers take note of reunion with the caregiver. The caregiver then leaves the room again, leaving the child alone, and researchers record what they need. The stranger then enters the room to comfort the baby, and the researchers take note of reactions from the child and the ability to be soothed from the stranger. The caregiver then returns to comfort the baby, and then the child is allowed to return to playing, and the researchers took their final notes.
http://www.attachfromscratch.com/mary-ainsworth.html
Anxieties
Seperation Anxiety is when the child shows fretfulness or wariness when seperated from their caregiver. Seperations Anxiety generally forms around eight months old and genereally reaches its peak around fourteen to eighteen months old; however, Seperation Anxiety becomes less frequent and begins to decline after its peak.
Throughout the study, the researchers took note of Seperation Anxiety and Stranger Anxiety and which the child experienced throughout the study.
http://www.ecdevelopment.org/5-tips-for-handling-toddler-separation-anxiety/
Stranger Anxiety is when the child has a reaction to a stranger. In the childs reaction, they may become quiet, wary of the person, or even hide. This type of anxiety is common among children between eight and eighteen months of age, but will genreally decline around the age of two.
http://www.metrokids.com/Blogs/MomSpeak/December-2012/Santa-stranger-anxiety-a-lesson-learned/
Attachment
There are three types of attachments, Secure, Ambivalent, and Avoidant.
Secure Attachment
A child with this type of attachment play when the caregiver is in the room, and may be upset when they leave; however, they will happily greet them at return, and will interact with a stranger with the caregiver present, but will not interact with them without the caregiver.
A child with this type of attachment play when the caregiver is in the room, and may be upset when they leave; however, they will happily greet them at return, and will interact with a stranger with the caregiver present, but will not interact with them without the caregiver.
http://blog.lib.umn.edu/huber195/myblog/2011/11/in-the-1970s-psychologist-mary.html
Ambivalent Attachment
A child with this type of attachment will be anxious to explore the stranger, when around the caregiver, and when the caregiver leaves, the child will be distressed. When the caregiver returns, the child will be resentful and not accept any attention, but still stay near the them.
A child with this type of attachment will be anxious to explore the stranger, when around the caregiver, and when the caregiver leaves, the child will be distressed. When the caregiver returns, the child will be resentful and not accept any attention, but still stay near the them.
http://shalamarchild.co.uk/a-pen-picture-of-a-child-with-an-ambivalent-attachment-style/
Avoidant Attachment
A child with this type of attachment will not pay attention to the caregiver, and will not care when the caregiver leaves or comes back. There is little emotion displayed no matter if the child is in the room with someone or alone. When a stranger is present, the child will not treat them any different from there caregiver.
A child with this type of attachment will not pay attention to the caregiver, and will not care when the caregiver leaves or comes back. There is little emotion displayed no matter if the child is in the room with someone or alone. When a stranger is present, the child will not treat them any different from there caregiver.
http://www.psychalive.org/identifying-your-childs-attachment-style/
Video of The Strange Situation
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QTsewNrHUHU
Today...
In today's society, the children would probably be indifferent to caregivers and stranger. With everything that parents do in today society, the child spends more time with a babysitter or in a daycare. With the child not around the caregiver that much, the caregiver will ultimately become the stranger; however, with all the technology being pushed on the newer generations, the children are becoming more independent and on their own, leaving everyone to become a stranger.
Reference
http://education-portal.com/academy/lesson/the-strange-situation-test-ainsworths-attachment-theory-for-infants.html
http://www.childdevelopmentmedia.com/mary-ainsworth-and-attachment-theory.html
http://www.childdevelopmentmedia.com/mary-ainsworth-and-attachment-theory.html