Synonyms
Introduction
The most significant contribution of Ainsworth’s Strange Situation method relies on the recognition of the importance of individual differences in attachment relationships since early infancy. Individual differences in attachment show a considerable predictive capacity for later developmental outcomes, also in adulthood (Weinfield et al. 2008): specifically, early caregiver-infant attachment bonds provide the prototype for future close relationships. Thus, research on attachment in adulthood has largely examined the issue of individual differences as well, focusing on different organization of attachment behaviors and on expectations on relationships (Crowell et al. 2008). It is important to note that...
This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.
Access this chapter
Tax calculation will be finalised at checkout
Purchases are for personal use only
References
Ainsworth, M. D. S., Blehar, M., Waters, E., & Wall, S. (1978). Patterns of attachment: A psychological study of the Strange Situation. Hillsdale: Erlbaum.
Bowlby, J. (1969/1982). Attachment and loss: Vol. 1. Attachment. New York: Basic Books.
Bowlby, J. (1973). Attachment and loss: Vol. 2. Separation: Anxiety and Anger. New York: Basic Books.
Bowlby, J. (1980). Attachment and loss: Vol. 3. Sadness and depression. New York: Basic Books.
Crowell, J. A., Fraley, R. C., & Shaver, P. R. (2008). Measurement of individual differences in adolescent and adult attachment. In J. Cassidy & P. R. Shaver (Eds.), Handbook of attachment: Theory, research, and clinical applications (2nd ed., pp. 78–101). New York: Guilford Press.
De Wolff, M. S., & van IJzendoorn, M. (1997). Sensitivity and attachment: A meta-analysis on parental antecedents of infant attachment. Child Development, 68(4), 571–591.
Lamb, M. E., Thompson, R. A., Gardner, W. P., Charnov, E. L., & Estes, D. (1984). Security of infantile attachment as assessed in the “strange situation”: Its study and biological interpretation. Behavioral and Brain Sciences, 7(01), 127–147.
Main, M., & Solomon, J. (1986). Discovery of a new, insecure disorganized/disoriented attachment pattern. In T. B. Brazelton & M. Yogman (Eds.), Affective Development in infancy (pp. 95–124). Norwood: Ablex.
Simonelli A., Moretti M., Penta P., Maffeis E. (2012). 1978-2008 Trent’anni di Strange Situation. Comportamenti interattivi e pattern di attaccamento: una verifica del modello di Ainsworth. Giornale Italiano di Psicologia, 3, 619-642.
Solomon, J., & George, C. (2016). The measurement of attachment security and related constructs in infancy and early childhood. In J. Cassidy, & P. R. Shaver (Eds.), Handbook of attachment: Theory, research, and clinical applications (3rd ed., pp. 366-396). New York: Guilford Press.
van IJzendoorn, M. H., Goldberg, S., Kroonenberg, P. M., & Frenkel, O. J. (1992). The relative effects of maternal and child problems on the quality of attachment: A meta-analysis of attachment in clinical samples. Child development, 63(4), 840–858.
van IJzendoorn, M. H., & Sagi-Schwartz, A. (2008). Cross-cultural pattern of attachment: Universal and contextual dimensions. In J. Cassidy & P. R. Shaver (Eds.), Handbook of attachment: Theory, research, and clinical applications (2nd ed., pp. 880–905). New York: Guilford Press.
Vaughn, B. E., & Waters, E. (1990). Attachment behavior at home and in the laboratory: Q-sort observations and strange situation classifications of one-year-olds. Child Development, 61(6), 1965–1973.
Weinfield, N. S., Sroufe, A. L., Egeland, B., & Carlson, E. (2008). Individual differences in attachment. In J. Cassidy & P. R. Shaver (Eds.), Handbook of attachment: Theory, research, and clinical applications (2nd ed., pp. 78–101). New York: Guilford Press.
Author information
Authors and Affiliations
Editor information
Editors and Affiliations
Section Editor information
Rights and permissions
Copyright information
© 2020 Springer Nature Switzerland AG
About this entry
Cite this entry
Simonelli, A., Parolin, M. (2020). Strange Situation Test. In: Zeigler-Hill, V., Shackelford, T.K. (eds) Encyclopedia of Personality and Individual Differences. Springer, Cham. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-319-24612-3_2043
Download citation
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-319-24612-3_2043
Published:
Publisher Name: Springer, Cham
Print ISBN: 978-3-319-24610-9
Online ISBN: 978-3-319-24612-3
eBook Packages: Behavioral Science and PsychologyReference Module Humanities and Social SciencesReference Module Business, Economics and Social Sciences