The Strange Situation Procedure (SSP) is qualitative laboratory paradigm used for assessing caregiver-infant attachment. The main focus of the SSP is on attachment behaviours. It promopt attachment behaviours through separation and reunion epsiodes and classifies children into attachment categories based on patterns of behaviours. As mentioned by Bowlby (1969/1982), it is believed that attachment behaviours become activated under fearful or stressful conditions. The SSP explores a wide range of attachment behaviours that allow for a more in-depth investigation of the infant-caregiver relationship. It categorizes attachment security based on four primary attachment behaviours – proximity seeking, contact maintenance, resistance, and avoidance. It is frequently referred to as the “gold standard” for examining childhood attachment behaviours (Ziv …show more content…
Secure infants seek proximity with their caregivers, especially after periods of separation, and in the presence of their caregivers infants display more exploratory behaviours (Bowlby, 1969/1982). Infants with an insecure-avoidant attachment rarely seek interaction with caregiver and do not appear distressed when their caregiver leaves. Insecure-ambivalent infants become distressed when separated from their caregiver, once the caregiver returns the distress is not resolved. These infants may be more passive or aggressive than those in other groups. Main and Solomon (1986) later introduced a fourth group: disorganized/disoriented (D). Disorganized behaviours take many different forms. Infants classified as disorganized display bizarre behaviours, appearing disoriented, angry or fearful and may engage in contradictory behaviours such as dropping to the floor when destressed even in the presence of the