strange situation experiment

The Strange Situation experiment is a research procedure developed by Mary Ainsworth to assess attachment theory in infants. It involves observing a child's behavior during a series of separations and reunions with their caregiver, typically their mother. The primary goal is to understand how infants regulate their emotions when distressed and how they use their caregiver as a "secure base."

The experiment categorizes infant attachment into different patterns:
* Securely attached children use their caregiver to reduce distress and resume activities after reunion.
* Anxious-resistant children remain distressed and may show anger or resentment.
* Anxious-avoidant children appear distant and detached, calming themselves independently.

These patterns are believed to reflect the quality of the infant-caregiver bond and can predict later social and emotional development.12