This research examined alternative mechanisms in the etiology of attachment disorganization. The authors hypothesized that negative intrusive parenting would significantly predict children's attachment disorganization at age 12 months within a diverse community sample. Of more substantial interest, the authors tested moderational mechanisms in the…

Provides a foundation for future experimental research on the origins in mother-infant interaction of sex differences in the development of a separate sense of self. Suggests that sex differences in the experience of a separate sense of self begin to emerge in early infancy and that mothers engage in different types of contact with sons and…

Examined role of infant and toddler temperament in predicting 2-year olds' empathy. Found that children showed relatively more concern for mother's distress, but were also responsive to unfamiliar victims. Unreacting infants showing little affect also showed less empathy toward the unfamiliar adult almost two years later. Inhibition toward…

Provides evidence that the significance given to the infant-mother attachment and personality and social development is not warranted. Infants normally develop attachments to more than one person. Their interpersonal world is complex and includes fathers and other caretakers. (Author/JAC)

Describes research with 12- to 18-month-old infants (N=108) determining whether the quality of an infant's attachment to his/her primary caregiver could predict the nature of his/her emerging personality. (CS)

This article examines the view of infants as passive recipients of social stimulation. It is argued that progress in the understanding of sociopersonality development will be achieved only when the competence of infants and the multidimensionality of the infant social world are acknowledged. (MS)

This symposium introduction outlines the first phase of an investigation of the mother-father-infant triad as an interactive system, influencing both parent attitudes and behaviors and child development. The focus of the research was on the early determinants of parental behavior. Subjects were 67 middle class, white parents and their first-born…

This paper discusses the nature of the infant social world. Infants develop attachments to both parents. Father-child and mother-child relationships are qualitatively different. They involve different types of experiences and have different implications for the child's personality development. The fathers' sex-differentiating behavior focuses the…

Describes the personality development of a normal infant during the child's first year. Development is interpreted in terms of psychoanalytic, cognitive-developmental, and mother-infant systems perspectives. A working relationship among the theories is demonstrated through analysis of case material. (RJC)

This volume is the first in "The Course of Life" series which contains original contributions from an international group of scientists and clinicians who have produced much of the current knowledge about the phases of human personality development. These contributions cover the continuum of human development from the prenatal phase…

To identify any differences in emotional/personality development of a group of infants reared at home and a matched groups of infants enrolled in a day care center, data were obtained on behaviors of two groups of infants. The sample consisted of 15 demographically matched pairs of infants, ages 3-24 months at entrance. Data were collected through…

Infants have definite personality characteristics from birth onward. Despite wide variation in infant temperament styles, ranging from easy to difficult, responsive parents and non-parental caregivers can ensure positive emotional-social development. This paper, which reviews various theories and research on personality development in infants and…

Previous studies have shown that American mothers, in contrast to Japanese, do more lively chatting to their babies, and that as a result, the American babies have a generally higher level of vocalization and, particularly, they respond with greater amounts of happy vocalization and gross motor activity than do Japanese babies. Thus, it appears…

The personality development during the first 5 years of life consists of several stages, and each developmental phase brings with it characteristic problems. Training of the intellect must be included in the education of a child. Reason and judgment should be removed as far as possible from magic, self-gratification and egocentric motives. The…