This journal issue presents an overview of mother-child interaction during the first year of the child's life. Contents of the first section, which concern the development of the mother-child relationship, focus on the concept of the maternal instinct, mother and child during intrauterine life, birth of the child, the postnatal period (including the newborn's sensory and interactional abilities), characteristics of newborns, and phases in the development of homeostasis. The second section, which deals with interaction, discusses (1) sensory systems, including touch and smell, which contribute to interaction at close range; (2) sensory systems, including sight and hearing, which contribute to interaction at a distance; (3) interaction based on taste, and (4) interaction involving all of the child's senses, such as the feeding of the child. The third section explores psychosocial development, and attachment and multiple attachments as they relate to separation and child care. Concluding remarks emphasize that the mother-child relationship develops through communication, and that the development of the child's mental life and ability to love depends upon the opportunities made available for communication. (RH)