A clinical intervention based on behavioral items from the Brazelton Neonatal Behavioral Assessment Scale (BNBAS) was implemented at a hospital among 40 lower middle class Portuguese mothers between 18 and 35 years old 3 days after delivery. The intervention aimed to promote mother-infant attachment by increasing mothers' awareness of the…

Despite revived interest in the study of relationships, the effect of loss of relationships in adulthood has lacked empirical study. To examine the dimensions underlying peoples' conceptions of their attachments in relationships and their reactions to the loss of relationships, 53 college students (31 females, 22 males) completed a questionnaire…

The issue of whether or not the basic principle guiding the placement of Australian children in need of care is applied in practice is addressed in this expanded seminar paper. It is pointed out that the principle stating that the child's welfare should be of paramount concern has been incorporated into Australian legislation in the Adoption Act…

The presented human sexuality theory argues that sex is highly pleasurable and therefore reinforcing; because it reinforces further contacts with partner, sexual involvement makes formation of stable bonds, love and eventually marriage likely. Data from large student ( N=668) and national (N=1613) samples generally support the theory. (Author)

Provides an update of information on infant nurturance and early learning of special interest to providers of services to parents and infants. (BR)

Twenty 18-month-olds were observed with their mothers and 20 with their fathers in laboratory free-play, departure, and separation situations. Findings were analyzed in terms of the differential roles of mothers and fathers, the development of sex differences, and determinants of separation distress. (JMB)

A separation-reunion paradigm and Ainsworth classification procedures were used to assess security of attachment of Kenyan Gusii infants to mothers and caretakers. Correlates of attachment security were specific to mothers and caretakers, suggesting that the association between security of attachment and infant functioning in American studies…

The role played by neuroembryological forces in shaping brain development is well documented in Nowakowski's (1987) article. Additional mechanisms whereby experience may influence brain structure and function are outlined. Several routes exist by which postnatal experiential influences may produce long-term alterations in behavior and…

The contributions of temperamentally and nontemperamentally based emotional reactions to the organization of social interactive behavior within the Strange Situation are examined for the purpose of bettering the understanding of the emotional underpinnings of attachment system functioning. At 12 1/2 and 19 1/2 months, temperamental fear was…

Findings indicated that (1) when siblings were 24-months-old, their social-emotional behavior displayed some concordance, and maternal behavior was stable with all siblings; (2) significant concordance in siblings' social-emotional behavior was conditioned by stability of maternal behavior; and (3) quality of infant-mother attachment at 12 months…

Investigated the relationship between maternal alcohol consumption and infant attachment behavior at one year of age. Infants were classified as secure, insecure-avoidant, insecure-ambivalent/resistant, or insecure-disorganized/disoriented. More infants of mothers who had consumed more alcohol were insecure in comparison with infants whose mothers…

Examined effects of birth of premature infant on the family system , focusing on how problems associated with premature birth place family at risk. Mothers of preterm infants felt overprotective, were unwilling to leave infants with babysitters, and perceived initial negative effect on the family. Preterm infants showed less exploratory play and…

Examines 2,000 Strange Situation classifications obtained in eight different countries. Differences and similarities between distributions in classifications of samples are investigated using correspondence analysis. Substantial intracultural differences are established; data also suggest a pattern of cross-cultural differences. (Author/RWB)