Psychologists have long debated the role of early experience in social and cognitive development. However, traditional approaches to studying this issue are not well positioned to address this debate. The authors present simulations that indicate that the associations between early experiences and later outcomes should approach different…

Tested the hypothesis that development of secure attachments is predictable from synchronous, and insecure attachments from asynchronous interactions across the first year. Findings from 30 dyads (10 secure, 10 avoidant, 10 resistant) supported the hypothesis at one and three months, with synchronous interaction observed at significantly,…

The consistency of eight attachment behaviors across a four-month period was investigated in two samples of infants. Multiple correlations revealed significant amounts of consistency in attachment behavior for vocalizing, visual regard, proximity to the mother from 10 to 14 months, and for touching and proximity to her from 14 to 18 months. (SE)

Examined associations between mothers' and trained observers' Attachment Q-Set (AQS) sorts for preschoolers and assessed mother-observer concordance in relation to observers' confidence about how representative the behavior they witnessed was of the domain of AQS items. Found that mothers' and observers' sorts were significantly intercorrelated;…

Multiple discriminant function analysis was conducted with data from Strange Situations. Results enable researchers to obtain attachment classifications directly from scores on interactive behavior and crying during reunion episodes. (PCB)

Presents two bodies of research relevant to the question of intergenerational continuity of attachment quality: studies documenting the effects of separation or disruption in the family of origin, and studies in which parents reported on their childhood attachments. Interprets this research within a theoretical perspective derived from the works…

The general proposition of attachment theory is that attachment is grounded in an independent, biologically based system. The quality of primary attachment relationships strongly influences a child's early personality organization, particularly the concept of self and others. The theory emphasizes the primary status and biological function of…

Two studies examined the relationship between maternal sensitivity and infant security of attachment in home and hospital contexts. Results are discussed in terms of links between methodology and effect sizes, the generality of links between maternal care and child security, need for research on caregiving in ordinary and emergency situations, and…

According to attachment theory, the quality of care plays a key role in the organization of infants' secure base behavior across contexts and cultures. Yet information about attachment relationships in a variety of cultures is scarce, and questions remain as to whether Ainsworth's conceptualization of early care quality (sensitivity; M. D. S.…

The applicability of the Strange Situation procedure and the ABC typology for Japanese infants is discussed by examining data from studies in which the Strange Situation procedure was performed with Japanese infants. Findings of a study conducted in Sapporo, Japan, are discussed and their implications are pointed out. The discussion concludes that…

The paper examined the impact of maternal personality and maternal social support variables on the security of mother-infant attachment. The influence of maternal intelligence, affect balance, and life stress were also examined. Measures used included Loevinger's Ego Development Scale, Crnic's Satisfaction with Social Support, the Peabody Picture…

To validate a new approach to research on the attachment behavior of children beyond toddler age, this study investigated relations between Q-sort outcomes and preschool children's affective perspective-taking; prosocial responsiveness to emotion; social competence, as rated by their teachers; and their mothers' expression and handling of…

The seven articles in this annual report concern aspects of attachment, social interaction among parents and children, temperament, affective behavior, and/or research methodology. Aspects of attachment and temperament are addressed in Kazuo Miyake's study of the "Relation of Temperamental Disposition to Classification of Attachment,"…

Discusses general conclusions for which evidence is provided by the research presented in this issue. Conclusions relate to (1) child-teacher relationships and attachments; (2) concordances between children's relationships with their teachers and parents; (3) children's internal representations of their relationships; (4) factors underlying…