A biobehavioral perspective may help settle disagreements about the validity and interpretation of infants' different behavioral patterns of attachment. A study of 41 infants demonstrated that insecure-avoidant infants, despite showing less overt distress after short separations from their mother than secure infants, exhibited arousal patterns as…

Examined the validity of the Adult Attachment Interview (AAI) measure by interviewing 83 mothers twice over 2 months, using different interviewers on each occasion. The results indicated that the reliability of the AAI classifications was quite high over time and across interviewers. The AAI classifications were independent of nonattachment…

Eighty infants, toddlers, and preschoolers were observed before, during, and after separations from their mothers. Results suggested that there were no negative cumulative effects of repeated separations. The children seemed to adapt to repeated separations following the stressful experience with their first separation. (GLR)

Results of a study of low-income, inner-city mothers and their 13-month-old infants supported the hypothesis that increased physical contact achieved through the use of a soft baby carrier makes mothers more responsive to their infants and promotes the formation of more secure attachment between infants and mothers. (RH)

Compared women's (n=40) and men's (n=20) levels of self-evolvement based on Kegan's Constructive-Developmental Theory. Findings from U.S. military personnel in Europe revealed no gender differences in self-evolvement. Results suggest stereotypically masculine orientation toward individuation and increased autonomy and stereotypically feminine…

Children of 18 months classified as secure or insecure/avoidant by means of the Ainsworth Strange Situation were observed at home and in a playgroup. Teachers and observers rated girls classified as insecure/avoidant as being more difficult to deal with and having more difficulty with peers than girls rated as securely attached. (PCB)

Examined relationship between coping resources and attachment to parents and peers in 60 college students. Different sets of coping resources predicted maternal, paternal, and peer attachment among subjects. Maternal and paternal attachment were associated with greater number of coping resource than was peer attachment. Findings suggest that…

Alexithymia (difficulty differentiating affective states and expressing feelings, external reliance in decision-making) is studied as a possible mediator by which dysfunctional family environment in childhood affects adult clients' attachment to therapist (N=61). Fear of separation, parent/child role reversal, and marital conflict were associated…

Examined 3- to 13-year olds' memories for an experienced and a never-experienced medical procedure. Found that children 4 years or older at time of the procedure described it more accurately than did younger children. Longer delays between procedure and recall were related to providing fewer correct information units but not more inaccuracies.…

Notes that young children need to express joys and sadness; discusses candle ceremony designed for discussions of grief. Suggests teachers inform parents of the ceremony and solicit their help in preparing children, resolve not to try to solve all problems that may be discussed, inform children the moments are private, and plan for difficult…

Efforts to prevent unintended teen pregnancy seem to have ignored emotional motivations in romantic relationships. Proposes a model that may provide mental-health counselors with a theoretical-research base for interventions and programming designed to enhance teens' romantic relationships while simultaneously preventing unwanted consequences such…

Examines the association of attachment organization and recalled grief responses following the dissolution of a romantic relationship. Data based on college students' (N=118) responses resulted in four interpretable grief themes. Preoccupied attachment predicted self-reproach, fearful attachment predicted partner blame, whereas both fearful and…

A study of 164 employed women with children found that women with secure or avoidant attachment styles were more likely to cope with hypothetical role conflicts using structural role redefinition. Ambivalently attached women used reactive role behavior. No relationship was found among coping styles, attachment styles, and work environment. (SK)

Reviews the literature on attachment and child maltreatment in relation to the intergenerational transmission of maltreatment. Review of 13 studies suggests that a poor mother-infant relationship is the primary process by which maltreatment continues from one generation to the next. (Author/DB)

Developed direct observational measure of children's attachment to inanimate objects such as blankets and soft toys among object-attached and non-object-attached 15- to 31-month-olds. Procedure varied arousal levels across situations. Found support for validity of the procedure in, among other factors, its ability to capture the preference of…