This book calls into question the degree to which early childhood experiences affect psychological development, critiquing three related myths: (1) personality is formed by early childhood experiences; (2) mental disorders are caused by early childhood experiences; and (3) effective psychotherapy depends on reconstructing childhood experiences.…

While parenting, attachment, individuation, and identity theories suggest relationships between parent-adolescent relationships, parenting behaviors, and adolescent self-evaluations, these theories differ in whether parent-adolescent relationship quality or parenting behaviors are more directly linked to adolescent self-evaluations. For this…

Examines reinforcing characteristics of attachment agents such as mothers and blankets among 100 preschool-age children. The first study assesses preferences for these agents in two-choice situations, the second study examines the effectiveness of the agents as visual reinforcers, and the third study focuses on the reinforcing capacity of the…

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)

Reports the experiences of two mothers with intercountry adoption. Identifies problems encountered and methods of solving them. Emphasizing the effects of cultural differences on early experience, the article points out that by the age of 6 months infants have begun to develop relationships with significant others and have expectations for…

Examines the validity of a maternal rating scale for pacifier-attachment in a laboratory setting. Once mothers' abilities to assess their children's attachment behavior were ascertained, a second study was designed to contrast the patterns of attachment to pacifiers, blankets, and hard objects in children between 1.5 and 63 months. (Author/MP)

This evaluative procedure developed at the Colorado Children's Diagnostic Center involves a team approach to divorce custody determination and direct consultation with the courts. (Author/CC)

Presents the case history of a 13-year-old asthmatic boy in residential treatment in order to illustrate how experiences in the milieu can become a vehicle for a child to gain better control over separation anxiety. (CM)

A study of 16 children with autism, 16 typical children, and 16 children with Downs syndrome (ages 3-6) investigated children's responses to separation and reunion with their mothers. No differences were found between groups; however, the children with disabilities showed more individual variation in separation and reunion patterns. (Author/CR)

Focuses on definition of sensitivity, developmental changes in sensitivity, and clinical implications of attachment. Maintains that promptness, consistency, and appropriateness are the main components of sensitivity across parenting dimensions. Suggests that studying infant antecedents to attachment security is equally important to that of parent…

Maintains that it is important to distinguish theory testing from effect-size evaluation when considering the impact of mothering on attachment security. Contends that it is possible that the De Wolff and van IJzendoorn meta-analysis both over- and underestimates mothering effects, as would be the case if infants varied in their susceptibility to…

Applies Travis Hirschi's bonding theory to a severely delinquent population of 168 youth detained at a juvenile detention center. Findings indicate that bonding with peers correlates with attachment to family. As youths commit more crimes, attachment to parents increases. Results suggest that youth appeared to identify with a delinquent…

Examined validity of Strange Situation attachment classifications for infants with and without extensive child-care experience and the association of early child-care experience with attachment security. Found that infants were less likely to be secure when low maternal sensitivity was combined with poor quality child care, more than minimal…

Clinicians and researchers are beginning to acknowledge the importance of integrating a developmental perspective into the understanding of clinical disorders. Major gaps still exist between basic research on attachment processes and clinical issues regarding mental disorders. Reflecting growth in this direction, National Institute of Mental…

This paper examines the role of internal working models in the development of parent-child relationships. Mental representations of child attachment, adult attachment, and parental caregiving are reviewed in light of adaptational deficits often associated with attachment insecurity. A reconceptualization of the link between insecurity and child…