The development and use of the Parent Behavior Progression (PBP), a method to evaluate parent-infant interactions, are discussed. Two forms of the PBP contain six levels, beginning with an affective base providing for parent-infant attachment, and concluding with a more cognitive or growth promoting orientation. Considerations in the use of the…

This article contains a review of recent research on the: (1) effects of immediate post partum mother infant contact; (2) effects of early separation of parents and babies in neonatal intensive care; and (3) facilitation of reciprocal interaction between mothers and their infants in neonatal intensive care. A brief description of a study that…

This study investigated the effects of mother's distance and visual field on some attachment behaviors of children 21-36 months old. Subjects were 20 male and 20 female children, half of each sex being reared primarily at home and half primarily in day care. Each child was observed with his mother in an experimental setting for a total of 16…

The stability of eight attachment behaviors was investigated in two samples of infants. One sample observed at 10 and 14 months of age, the other sample at 14 and 18 months. For each testing period, the infants were observed during two sessions: (a) in the presence of the mother; and (b) before, during, and after a brief separation experience.…

This paper reviews a few studies, both in animals and humans, that are relevant in helping us to understand factors affecting infant-mother interaction. (MM)

The effects of the presence of an attachment object upon preschoolers' emotionality and discrimination performance in a novel learning situation were evaluated. Blanket-attached and blanket-nonattached children were assigned to one of three task conditions: (1) mother present, (2) blanket present, (3) no familiar object present. (Author/SB)

Familiarity of the setting, the mother's presence, sex of the stranger, and the distance separating the infant and the stranger were varied to examine the expression of stranger fear in 32 infants from 6 to 11 months of age. (Author/JMB)

Examined questionnaires completed by acutely bereaved widows and widowers to identify dimensions of psychological stress associated with bereavement. Found four factors that were meaningfully understood within the framework of attachment theory. Findings support view that grief is a complex, evolving process with multiple dimensions. (Author/NB)

Findings suggest that infant temperament affects the manner in which security or insecurity is expressed, but does not determine whether an infant develops a secure or insecure attachment to parent. (PCB)

Discusses the relationship between insecurity and attachment to soft, inanimate objects. Because attachments to nonsocial objects are common, there is agreement that they do not presage maladjustment. An investigation with 20- to 41-month-olds indicated that attachment to blankets was not associated with general fearfulness, however, certain…

This article attempts to illustrate the value of a psychobiological approach to the study of a particular behavior; in this case, vocalization of infant primates following loss of the mother. (PCB)

No differences were found in mother-infant attachment between nonadopted and intraracial adopted subjects or between intraracial and interracial adopted subjects. Suggests that the higher incidence of psychological problems found among adoptees in middle childhood and adolescence cannot be explained in terms of insecure attachment relationships…

Results suggest that various aspects of Strange Situation behavior are related to both maternal and infant temperament, and that maternal temperament is a predictor of attachment security, particularly for Type A mother-avoidant infants. (Author/RH)

Argues that none of the conventional methods for assessing attachment meet all criteria. Describes development of a 100-item sort for assessing secure attachment in toddlers, closely tied to Bowlby's control systems model of attachment. Evaluates the Q-sort in terms of criteria for valid thoery-based assessments that have applicability beyond this…