Reviews evidence for assertions related to the monotropism hypothesis and examines causal factors that might constrain the number of satisfactory caretaker relationships provided for young children. Two models of constraint derived from the earlier work of Bowlby and others are rejected; two models based on more recent theory are considered worth…

Results showed no evidence that intercorrelations of patterns of attachment behavior were influenced by methodological considerations such as length of observation, setting of observation, or the number of behaviors monitored. Further, there was no evidence of sex differences in the pattern of correlations. (JMB)

Relates Bowlby's original conceptualization of attachment to recently developed theories subsumed under the label of sociobiology. (MP)

Under equivalent task conditions, assessed object and person concept attainment in securely and insecurely attached infants. Subjects were 16 male and 23 female infants from middle class families. (Author/RH)

Attempts to clarify the developmental precursors of different types of infant/father relationships by examining early quality of father/infant interaction as well as subsequent security of infant/father attachment. In addition, potential stability of father/infant interaction and within-age relationships between quality of interaction and…

This experiment tested the theoretical predictions concerning the patterns of visual fixation to representations of familiar and unfamiliar persons during the second quarter of the first year of life. Subjects were twelve 4-month-old and twelve 6-month-old infants. (Author/SB)

A group of 3-year-old children were observed in a Strange Situation immediately prior to admission to day care and again three months later. Their behavior was compared with that of a control group, matched in all respects except for the fact that their parents had no plans to enroll them in day care. (SB)

Examined relationship between preschoolers' attachment security and child and mother problem-solving behaviors in laboratory tasks. Found that, compared to children with higher scores, children with lower security scores on the Attachment Q-Sort made more unnecessary help-seeking bids and inability statements, were more frustrated, and asked for…

Analyzed data from a longitudinal study of 570 mother-infant pairs to test the bonding hypothesis and the good-enough caregiver hypothesis as they relate to breastfeeding with maternal bonding and the mother-infant relationship. Found that breastfeeding dyads tended to show higher-quality relationships at 12 months than did bottle-feeding dyads.…

Examines strategies for studying individual differences in infant behavior from the standpoints of the distinction between individual differences and developmental function and the need to study change with multivariate techniques. These themes are applied to the study of mental development, behavior genetics, temperament, and attachment. (RJC)

Investigated the links between attachment and parent peer-management practices, and how each is related to children's home-based peer networks, in a sample of preschoolers and their parents. Found that most securely attached girls, but not boys, were more involved in initiating their peer contacts; home-based peer networks were related to parent…

Aim of this study was to obtain direct observations of attachment and exploration behaviors exhibited in a strange situation by children with Down's syndrome and a control group of normal children. (JH)

Attachment behaviors were compared for groups of mother/deaf preschool child dyads where only oral communication was used and where total communication was used. Results showed that very few of the children were distressed by separation from their mothers. Further, the children's level of communicative competence was shown to be associated with…

Studied variability in mother-child attachment security among high-risk families living in poverty. Maternal sensitivity and the presence of appropriate play materials were assessed. Findings indicated that maternal, child, and contextual variables were significantly associated with attachment security. Furthermore, greater cumulative assets were…