Interactive Behaviors and Attachment Patterns in the Strange Situation Procedure: A Validation of the Ainsworth Model

Alessandra Simonelli; Francesca De Palo; Micol Parolin; Marilena Moretti

doi:doi:10.11648/j.pbs.20140302.17

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Interactive Behaviors and Attachment Patterns in the Strange Situation Procedure: A Validation of the Ainsworth Model

Alessandra Simonelli, Francesca De Palo, Micol Parolin, Marilena Moretti

Published in Psychology and Behavioral Sciences (Volume 3, Issue 2)

Received: 5 March 2014 Accepted: 8 April 2014 Published: 10 May 2014

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Abstract

The Strange Situation Procedure (SSP; Ainsworth, Blehar, Waters, Wall, 1978) is the most widely used procedure to assess attachment in early childhood (Bowlby, 1969). In the original text by Ainsworth et al. (1978), the video coding is carried out by means of a two-step procedure: in the first part, coders apply a series of observational scales with graduated scores on a Likert scale, whereas during the second part, a descriptive category of attachment is assigned, which somehow “summarizes” the general quality of the child’s behaviour, already assessed by means of scales. Obviously, the system validation study highlights a discriminant correspondence between the scores which are assigned through the scales and the descriptive category which is assigned in the end. The aim of the present study was to test this specific aspect of the Strange Situation coding procedure: in order to do so, and similarly to what had been done in the original work in 1978, we compared the categorical attachment classification system with the ordinal one provided by the scales, which describe the child’s behaviors in the various procedure episodes. 76 12-month-old infants were observed in the Strange Situation Procedure in order to compare the classification of attachment by the global descriptive patterns with the Ainsworth’s microanalytic coding system (Interactive Behavior Scales). Results: Discriminant function analysis (MDFA) and classification weights confirm the discriminant functions of the interactive behavior to differentiate between patterns of attachment and attesting good validity of the methodology and the coding system.

Published in	Psychology and Behavioral Sciences (Volume 3, Issue 2)
DOI	10.11648/j.pbs.20140302.17
Page(s)	75-84
Creative Commons	This is an Open Access article, distributed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License (http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/), which permits unrestricted use, distribution and reproduction in any medium or format, provided the original work is properly cited.
Copyright	Copyright © The Author(s), 2024. Published by Science Publishing Group

Keywords

Strange Situation Procedure, Interactive Behavior Scales, Discriminant Analysis, Patterns of Attachment

References

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APA Style

Alessandra Simonelli, Francesca De Palo, Micol Parolin, Marilena Moretti. (2014). Interactive Behaviors and Attachment Patterns in the Strange Situation Procedure: A Validation of the Ainsworth Model. Psychology and Behavioral Sciences, 3(2), 75-84. https://doi.org/10.11648/j.pbs.20140302.17

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ACS Style

Alessandra Simonelli; Francesca De Palo; Micol Parolin; Marilena Moretti. Interactive Behaviors and Attachment Patterns in the Strange Situation Procedure: A Validation of the Ainsworth Model. Psychol. Behav. Sci. 2014, 3(2), 75-84. doi: 10.11648/j.pbs.20140302.17

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AMA Style

Alessandra Simonelli, Francesca De Palo, Micol Parolin, Marilena Moretti. Interactive Behaviors and Attachment Patterns in the Strange Situation Procedure: A Validation of the Ainsworth Model. Psychol Behav Sci. 2014;3(2):75-84. doi: 10.11648/j.pbs.20140302.17

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@article{10.11648/j.pbs.20140302.17,
  author = {Alessandra Simonelli and Francesca De Palo and Micol Parolin and Marilena Moretti},
  title = {Interactive Behaviors and Attachment Patterns in the Strange Situation Procedure: A Validation of the Ainsworth Model},
  journal = {Psychology and Behavioral Sciences},
  volume = {3},
  number = {2},
  pages = {75-84},
  doi = {10.11648/j.pbs.20140302.17},
  url = {https://doi.org/10.11648/j.pbs.20140302.17},
  eprint = {https://article.sciencepublishinggroup.com/pdf/10.11648.j.pbs.20140302.17},
  abstract = {The Strange Situation Procedure (SSP; Ainsworth, Blehar, Waters, Wall, 1978) is the most widely used procedure to assess attachment in early childhood (Bowlby, 1969). In the original text by Ainsworth et al. (1978), the video coding is carried out by means of a two-step procedure: in the first part, coders apply a series of observational scales with graduated scores on a Likert scale, whereas during the second part, a descriptive category of attachment is assigned, which somehow “summarizes” the general quality of the child’s behaviour, already assessed by means of scales. Obviously, the system validation study highlights a discriminant correspondence between the scores which are assigned through the scales and the descriptive category which is assigned in the end. The aim of the present study was to test this specific aspect of the Strange Situation coding procedure: in order to do so, and similarly to what had been done in the original work in 1978, we compared the categorical attachment classification system with the ordinal one provided by the scales, which describe the child’s behaviors in the various procedure episodes. 76 12-month-old infants were observed in the Strange Situation Procedure in order to compare the classification of attachment by the global descriptive patterns with the Ainsworth’s microanalytic coding system (Interactive Behavior Scales). Results: Discriminant function analysis (MDFA) and classification weights confirm the discriminant functions of the interactive behavior to differentiate between patterns of attachment and attesting good validity of the methodology and the coding system.},
 year = {2014}
}

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TY  - JOUR
T1  - Interactive Behaviors and Attachment Patterns in the Strange Situation Procedure: A Validation of the Ainsworth Model
AU  - Alessandra Simonelli
AU  - Francesca De Palo
AU  - Micol Parolin
AU  - Marilena Moretti
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DO  - 10.11648/j.pbs.20140302.17
T2  - Psychology and Behavioral Sciences
JF  - Psychology and Behavioral Sciences
JO  - Psychology and Behavioral Sciences
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PB  - Science Publishing Group
SN  - 2328-7845
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AB  - The Strange Situation Procedure (SSP; Ainsworth, Blehar, Waters, Wall, 1978) is the most widely used procedure to assess attachment in early childhood (Bowlby, 1969). In the original text by Ainsworth et al. (1978), the video coding is carried out by means of a two-step procedure: in the first part, coders apply a series of observational scales with graduated scores on a Likert scale, whereas during the second part, a descriptive category of attachment is assigned, which somehow “summarizes” the general quality of the child’s behaviour, already assessed by means of scales. Obviously, the system validation study highlights a discriminant correspondence between the scores which are assigned through the scales and the descriptive category which is assigned in the end. The aim of the present study was to test this specific aspect of the Strange Situation coding procedure: in order to do so, and similarly to what had been done in the original work in 1978, we compared the categorical attachment classification system with the ordinal one provided by the scales, which describe the child’s behaviors in the various procedure episodes. 76 12-month-old infants were observed in the Strange Situation Procedure in order to compare the classification of attachment by the global descriptive patterns with the Ainsworth’s microanalytic coding system (Interactive Behavior Scales). Results: Discriminant function analysis (MDFA) and classification weights confirm the discriminant functions of the interactive behavior to differentiate between patterns of attachment and attesting good validity of the methodology and the coding system.
VL  - 3
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Author Information

Alessandra Simonelli

Department of Developmental and Socialization Psychology, University of Padua, Padova, Italy
Francesca De Palo

Department of Developmental and Socialization Psychology, University of Padua, Padova, Italy
Micol Parolin

Department of Developmental and Socialization Psychology, University of Padua, Padova, Italy
Marilena Moretti

Department of Developmental and Socialization Psychology, University of Padua, Padova, Italy

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APA Style

Alessandra Simonelli, Francesca De Palo, Micol Parolin, Marilena Moretti. (2014). Interactive Behaviors and Attachment Patterns in the Strange Situation Procedure: A Validation of the Ainsworth Model. Psychology and Behavioral Sciences, 3(2), 75-84. https://doi.org/10.11648/j.pbs.20140302.17

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ACS Style

Alessandra Simonelli; Francesca De Palo; Micol Parolin; Marilena Moretti. Interactive Behaviors and Attachment Patterns in the Strange Situation Procedure: A Validation of the Ainsworth Model. Psychol. Behav. Sci. 2014, 3(2), 75-84. doi: 10.11648/j.pbs.20140302.17

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AMA Style

Alessandra Simonelli, Francesca De Palo, Micol Parolin, Marilena Moretti. Interactive Behaviors and Attachment Patterns in the Strange Situation Procedure: A Validation of the Ainsworth Model. Psychol Behav Sci. 2014;3(2):75-84. doi: 10.11648/j.pbs.20140302.17

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@article{10.11648/j.pbs.20140302.17,
  author = {Alessandra Simonelli and Francesca De Palo and Micol Parolin and Marilena Moretti},
  title = {Interactive Behaviors and Attachment Patterns in the Strange Situation Procedure: A Validation of the Ainsworth Model},
  journal = {Psychology and Behavioral Sciences},
  volume = {3},
  number = {2},
  pages = {75-84},
  doi = {10.11648/j.pbs.20140302.17},
  url = {https://doi.org/10.11648/j.pbs.20140302.17},
  eprint = {https://article.sciencepublishinggroup.com/pdf/10.11648.j.pbs.20140302.17},
  abstract = {The Strange Situation Procedure (SSP; Ainsworth, Blehar, Waters, Wall, 1978) is the most widely used procedure to assess attachment in early childhood (Bowlby, 1969). In the original text by Ainsworth et al. (1978), the video coding is carried out by means of a two-step procedure: in the first part, coders apply a series of observational scales with graduated scores on a Likert scale, whereas during the second part, a descriptive category of attachment is assigned, which somehow “summarizes” the general quality of the child’s behaviour, already assessed by means of scales. Obviously, the system validation study highlights a discriminant correspondence between the scores which are assigned through the scales and the descriptive category which is assigned in the end. The aim of the present study was to test this specific aspect of the Strange Situation coding procedure: in order to do so, and similarly to what had been done in the original work in 1978, we compared the categorical attachment classification system with the ordinal one provided by the scales, which describe the child’s behaviors in the various procedure episodes. 76 12-month-old infants were observed in the Strange Situation Procedure in order to compare the classification of attachment by the global descriptive patterns with the Ainsworth’s microanalytic coding system (Interactive Behavior Scales). Results: Discriminant function analysis (MDFA) and classification weights confirm the discriminant functions of the interactive behavior to differentiate between patterns of attachment and attesting good validity of the methodology and the coding system.},
 year = {2014}
}

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TY  - JOUR
T1  - Interactive Behaviors and Attachment Patterns in the Strange Situation Procedure: A Validation of the Ainsworth Model
AU  - Alessandra Simonelli
AU  - Francesca De Palo
AU  - Micol Parolin
AU  - Marilena Moretti
Y1  - 2014/05/10
PY  - 2014
N1  - https://doi.org/10.11648/j.pbs.20140302.17
DO  - 10.11648/j.pbs.20140302.17
T2  - Psychology and Behavioral Sciences
JF  - Psychology and Behavioral Sciences
JO  - Psychology and Behavioral Sciences
SP  - 75
EP  - 84
PB  - Science Publishing Group
SN  - 2328-7845
UR  - https://doi.org/10.11648/j.pbs.20140302.17
AB  - The Strange Situation Procedure (SSP; Ainsworth, Blehar, Waters, Wall, 1978) is the most widely used procedure to assess attachment in early childhood (Bowlby, 1969). In the original text by Ainsworth et al. (1978), the video coding is carried out by means of a two-step procedure: in the first part, coders apply a series of observational scales with graduated scores on a Likert scale, whereas during the second part, a descriptive category of attachment is assigned, which somehow “summarizes” the general quality of the child’s behaviour, already assessed by means of scales. Obviously, the system validation study highlights a discriminant correspondence between the scores which are assigned through the scales and the descriptive category which is assigned in the end. The aim of the present study was to test this specific aspect of the Strange Situation coding procedure: in order to do so, and similarly to what had been done in the original work in 1978, we compared the categorical attachment classification system with the ordinal one provided by the scales, which describe the child’s behaviors in the various procedure episodes. 76 12-month-old infants were observed in the Strange Situation Procedure in order to compare the classification of attachment by the global descriptive patterns with the Ainsworth’s microanalytic coding system (Interactive Behavior Scales). Results: Discriminant function analysis (MDFA) and classification weights confirm the discriminant functions of the interactive behavior to differentiate between patterns of attachment and attesting good validity of the methodology and the coding system.
VL  - 3
IS  - 2
ER  -

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