Interactions of adults with a single infant, dressed as either a male or female, were recorded and analyzed for direction of gaze, facial expression, physical contact, and toys used. Interviews followed. Results shows that both male and female parents behave differently toward unfamiliar infants on the basis of perceived sex. (AOS)

To assess the effects of the onset of mothers' inaccessibility to their infants, infant-mother pairs were observed in the Ainsworth strange situation at both 12 and 18 months and were classified as secure, anxious-avoidant, or anxious-resistant. Children of mothers who had returned to work/school before their child was 12-months-old were more…

Training was found to increase both parents' and infants' competence in the parent-infant dyad. A reciprocal relationship between increases in the trained fathers' interactions and decreases in the trained mothers' interactions was found, indicating that the triad may be the crucial unit for studies of parental competence. (Author/RH)

Evaluates the effects of continuous lumbar epidural anesthesia on the newborn and on the developing mother- infant relationship. (Author/MP)

The interactive behaviors of eight deaf and eight hearing mothers and their hearing infants were examined during play. Compared to hearing mothers, deaf mothers produced fewer, shorter vocalizations, but more nonvocal initiations. The two groups of infants differed on frequency and duration of their vocalizations only at the 16-17 month age level.…

Examined the relation between infant-sibling affective involvement and the attachment security of 1-7-year-old children of 53 mothers. Secure infants reacted less negatively than insecure infants when mothers turned their attention to an older child. (RJC)

Examined the relationship between infant attractiveness and maternal behavior by observing mothers feeding and playing with their firstborn infants immediately after giving birth and when the infants were three months of age. Found that mothers of more attractive infants were more affectionate and playful compared with mothers of less attractive…

Previous research has investigated the effect of maternal soothing behaviors on reducing infant reactivity but not the differential effects of specific maternal behaviors on infant stress responses. The present study investigated maternal regulation of 2- and 6-month-olds' responses to an inoculation and found a significant decline with age in…

This study examined how change occurs in infant gestural communication. Five infants were videotaped once a week from 10 to 12 months and twice a week from 12 to 15 months during play sessions with their mothers in a laboratory playroom. These sessions consisted of 10 minutes of a structured play context in which infants were seated at a table at…

Describes some of the ways in which members of the New Orleans Parent Child Developmental Center work with parents of children 6-18 months to aid them in creating a stimulating and interesting environment for their children. (ED)

This paper presents a pilot study designed to suggest an experiential interpretation of the development of extreme activity levels in infants (specifically, hyperactivity) and to demonstrate that general activity in infants may be influenced by the reinforcement contingencies established by mothers. Subjects were three 13-week-old infants. Operant…

The study was designed to investigate the exploration and attachment behavior of young children in a strange situation in the presence of: (1) an individual to whom the child was attached (the mother); (2) an inanimate object with which the child was highly familiar (favorite toy); and (3) a novel inanimate object (an unfamiliar toy). The effect…

The Flint Infant Security Scale measures an infant's behavior in order to establish the child's ability to accept dependence upon their caretaker and to put forth effort when the occasion calls for it. Both these aspects of behavior are reflections of the child's sense of security and feeling of self-worth. The Scale, consisting of the Manual and…

This paper has two major purposes: first, to consider how infant feeding behavior may fit into attachment theory; and second, to cite some evidence to show how an infant's early interaction with his mother in the feeding situation is related to subsequent development. It was found that sucking and rooting are precursor attachment behaviors that…