Three studies examined proximity and contact behaviors (behaviors generally thought to be indicative of attachment relationships) in young autistic children. The first study examined the behavior of 32 young autistic children and children with pervasive developmental disorders (PDD) in a "strange situation" paradigm using four…

Part of a prospective longitudinal study examining factors that account for developmental outcomes for high-risk children, this investigation focused on how successful adaptation at 12 and 18 months is related to adaptation at 24 months, 42 months, and 4.5 to 5 years of age. Assessments at each age were designed to indicate how the child was…

Traditionally, members of couples are similar in age, race, class, appearance and education. But within that common background, men tend to marry women slightly below themselves, a phenomenon known in sociology as the marriage gradient. To determine the extent to which students are comfortable with unequal relationships and traditional and…

Discusses an alternate method of examining the verbal interaction of mothers and their children in dyadic communication. The behavior of both mothers and children differed significantly according to the ages of the children involved. Acta Symbolica, 807 Jefferson Avenue, Memphis, Tennessee 38105. Subscription Rates: annually, $12.00 individuals,…

A study examined the subjective experience of love (the feelings associated with love and the meanings attributed to these feelings) and the manners in which love is communicated. Face-to-face interviews were conducted with 76 respondents (ages ranged from 21 to 54, with 52% over 30 years old). In the first part of the interview, respondents were…

Differential association-learning theory posits that association with delinquent peers causes delinquency; control theory suggests that the link between delinquent peers and delinquent behavior is spurious, or that delinquent behavior leads to delinquent associates. To examine these competing perspectives, 1,128 secondary school males completed…

Of a group of 67 low-income first-time fathers-to-be, half were randomly assigned during the second trimester of pregnancy to participate in an intervention program designed to acquaint them with information, insights, and clinically appropriate techniques of responsive care for infants. Fathers were videotaped in feeding interactions with infants…

Designed to meet needs of expectant and new working parents, these curriculum materials provide guidelines for instructors and discussions of six parent education topics. The curriculum begins by examining the qualifications an instructor should have before attempting to teach expectant or working parents. Subsequently described are specific ways…

This document is one in a series of resource manuals providing child welfare content that can be included in existing core courses in social work education programs, i.e., social work policy, social work practice, social work research, and human development in the social environment. Part 1 of the document discusses the reasons for developing…

This paper points out that a basic difference between the incarceration of men and that of women is that women are often the sole or primary caretakers of children at the time they are arrested. The disposition of the children varies greatly among states, and may involve anything from a court-ordered termination of the mother's parental rights to…

This paper examines current approaches to conceptualizing and studying fathers' interactions with infants from three perspectives: (1) Spence and Helmreich's current trait theory of masculinity and femininity; (2) differentiated levels of inquiry into fatherhood; and (3) Bronfenbrenner's social ecology of the infant. Detailed discussions of each…

There has been much work on social networks and interpersonal worlds, but until recently little discussion of the unique aspects of women's networks. To examine the factors that constrain or facilitate such female bonding, 43 low-income urban mothers were interviewed. For these respondents, female bonding was a significant aspect of their lives.…

Parents of handicapped children can provide valuable assistance to child caregivers and should be encouraged to become involved in the observation and education of their handicapped child. However, obstacles to optimal parent-caregiver cooperation may exist. Parents and caregivers may have different views of the infant and differ in knowledge of…

This bibliography compiles citations from seven selected data bases on the topic of attachment and children. The citations are grouped into eight categories: (1) Attachment -- General; (2) Institutions -- Hospitals, Prisons; (3) Day Care and Attachment; (4) Handicapped Children and Attachment; (5) Separation; (6) Child Abuse and Attachment; (7)…

This brief paper describes how staff at the United Methodist Nursery School in Naperville, Illinois structured leavetaking experiences, such as school entry and exit times, for children, parents and staff to reduce problems associated with separation, attachment and loss. (Author/RH)