In the "Strange Situation" experiment, which researcher primarily studied children's responses to caregiver separation?

The "Strange Situation" experiment was primarily conducted by Mary Ainsworth to assess the attachment styles of children in relation to their caregivers. Ainsworth observed how children reacted in a controlled setting where they were briefly separated from their caregivers and then reunited. This research was crucial in highlighting different types of attachment: secure, anxious-ambivalent, and avoidant. Ainsworth's work provided significant insights into the dynamics of child-caregiver relationships and the impact of these interactions on psychological development.

In contrast, Jean Piaget focused on cognitive development in children, Lev Vygotsky emphasized social interaction and culture's role in learning, and Erik Erikson explored psychosocial development across the lifespan. While all of these theorists contributed greatly to developmental psychology, it was Ainsworth's research that specifically centered on attachment behaviors in the context of caregiver separation.