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Marian J Bakermanskranenburg - One of the best experts on this subject based on the ideXlab platform.
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Disorganized Attachment in infancy a review of the phenomenon and its implications for clinicians and policy makers
Attachment & Human Development, 2017Co-Authors: Pehr Granqvist, Mary Dozier, Marinus H Van Ijzendoorn, Alan L Sroufe, Erik Hesse, Miriam Steele, Judith Solomon, Carlo Schuengel, Pasco Fearon, Marian J BakermanskranenburgAbstract:Disorganized/Disoriented (D) Attachment has seen widespread interest from policy makers, practitioners, and clinicians in recent years. However, some of this interest seems to have been based on some false assumptions that (1) Attachment measures can be used as definitive assessments of the individual in forensic/child protection settings and that Disorganized Attachment (2) reliably indicates child maltreatment, (3) is a strong predictor of pathology, and (4) represents a fixed or static “trait” of the child, impervious to development or help. This paper summarizes the evidence showing that these four assumptions are false and misleading. The paper reviews what is known about Disorganized infant Attachment and clarifies the implications of the classification for clinical and welfare practice with children. In particular, the difference between Disorganized Attachment and Attachment disorder is examined, and a strong case is made for the value of Attachment theory for supportive work with families and for the development and evaluation of evidence-based caregiving interventions.
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the significance of insecure and Disorganized Attachment for children s internalizing symptoms a meta analytic study
Child Development, 2012Co-Authors: Ashley M Groh, Marian J Bakermanskranenburg, Marinus H Van Ijzendoorn, Glenn I Roisman, R Pasco M FearonAbstract:This meta-analytic review examines the association between Attachment and internalizing symptomatology during childhood, and compares the strength of this association with that for externalizing symptomatology. Based on 42 independent samples (N = 4,614), the association between insecurity and internalizing symptoms was small, yet significant (d = 0.15, CI 0.06~0.25) and not moderated by assessment age of internalizing problems. Avoidance, but not resistance (d = 0.03, CI -0.11~0.17) or disorganization (d = 0.08, CI -0.06~0.22), was significantly associated with internalizing symptoms (d = 0.17, CI 0.03~0.31). Insecurity and disorganization were more strongly associated with externalizing than internalizing symptoms. Discussion focuses on the significance of Attachment for the development of internalizing versus externalizing symptomatology.
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research review genetic vulnerability or differential susceptibility in child development the case of Attachment
Journal of Child Psychology and Psychiatry, 2007Co-Authors: Marian J Bakermanskranenburg, Marinus H Van IjzendoornAbstract:Gene‐environment interactions interpreted in terms of differential susceptibility may play a large part in the explanation of individual differences in human development. Reviewing studies on the behavioral and molecular genetics of Attachment, we present evidence for interactions between genetic and environmental factors explaining individual differences in Attachment security and disorganization. In particular, the DRD4 7-repeat polymorphism seems associated with an increased risk for Disorganized Attachment, but only when combined with environmental risk. Gene‐environment (G · E) interactions may be interpreted as genetic vulnerability or differential susceptibility. We found support for the differential susceptibility hypothesis predicting not only more negative outcomes for susceptible children in unfavorable environments, but also positive outcomes for susceptible children in favorable environments. Keywords: Attachment, gene‐environment interaction, differential susceptibility, Disorganized Attachment, dopamine, behavior problems, genetics. Attachment theory is an important theoretical framework for studying infant‐parent relationships and individual differences in emotion regulation. Attachment is the evolutionary-based, innate predisposition of a child to seek proximity to and contact with a specific figure, notably when the child is frightened, tired or ill (Bowlby, 1969/1982). In the current review we take the development of Attachment as an example to demonstrate the crucial role of gene‐environment interactions in explaining individual developmental differences. We argue that gene‐environment interactions should not be restricted to negative environmental influences, emphasizing genetic vulnerabilities, but should be interpreted in terms of differential susceptibility of children to environmental influences, ‘for better or for worse’ (Belsky, 1997, 2005).
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research review genetic vulnerability or differential susceptibility in child development the case of Attachment
Journal of Child Psychology and Psychiatry, 2007Co-Authors: Marian J Bakermanskranenburg, Marinus H Van IjzendoornAbstract:Gene-environment interactions interpreted in terms of differential susceptibility may play a large part in the explanation of individual differences in human development. Reviewing studies on the behavioral and molecular genetics of Attachment, we present evidence for interactions between genetic and environmental factors explaining individual differences in Attachment security and disorganization. In particular, the DRD4 7-repeat polymorphism seems associated with an increased risk for Disorganized Attachment, but only when combined with environmental risk. Gene-environment (G x E) interactions may be interpreted as genetic vulnerability or differential susceptibility. We found support for the differential susceptibility hypothesis predicting not only more negative outcomes for susceptible children in unfavorable environments, but also positive outcomes for susceptible children in favorable environments.
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script like Attachment representations steps towards a secure base for further research
Attachment & Human Development, 2006Co-Authors: Marian J BakermanskranenburgAbstract:The secure base script method assesses the extent to which Attachment relevant narratives reflect access to a secure base script. The reliability and (convergent, predictive) validity of the secure base script measure has been documented in the convergent findings of the various cross-national studies reported in this issue. The instrument's easy administration and coding system promises larger studies focusing on psychometric and substantive questions following from the current set of studies. More specifically, future research with the secure base script may concern its incremental validity, explore scripts of so-called 'earned secure adults', and test the association between scriptedness and (Disorganized) Attachment in the Strange Situation Procedure.
Marinus H Van Ijzendoorn - One of the best experts on this subject based on the ideXlab platform.
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Disorganized Attachment in infancy a review of the phenomenon and its implications for clinicians and policy makers
Attachment & Human Development, 2017Co-Authors: Pehr Granqvist, Mary Dozier, Marinus H Van Ijzendoorn, Alan L Sroufe, Erik Hesse, Miriam Steele, Judith Solomon, Carlo Schuengel, Pasco Fearon, Marian J BakermanskranenburgAbstract:Disorganized/Disoriented (D) Attachment has seen widespread interest from policy makers, practitioners, and clinicians in recent years. However, some of this interest seems to have been based on some false assumptions that (1) Attachment measures can be used as definitive assessments of the individual in forensic/child protection settings and that Disorganized Attachment (2) reliably indicates child maltreatment, (3) is a strong predictor of pathology, and (4) represents a fixed or static “trait” of the child, impervious to development or help. This paper summarizes the evidence showing that these four assumptions are false and misleading. The paper reviews what is known about Disorganized infant Attachment and clarifies the implications of the classification for clinical and welfare practice with children. In particular, the difference between Disorganized Attachment and Attachment disorder is examined, and a strong case is made for the value of Attachment theory for supportive work with families and for the development and evaluation of evidence-based caregiving interventions.
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the significance of insecure and Disorganized Attachment for children s internalizing symptoms a meta analytic study
Child Development, 2012Co-Authors: Ashley M Groh, Marian J Bakermanskranenburg, Marinus H Van Ijzendoorn, Glenn I Roisman, R Pasco M FearonAbstract:This meta-analytic review examines the association between Attachment and internalizing symptomatology during childhood, and compares the strength of this association with that for externalizing symptomatology. Based on 42 independent samples (N = 4,614), the association between insecurity and internalizing symptoms was small, yet significant (d = 0.15, CI 0.06~0.25) and not moderated by assessment age of internalizing problems. Avoidance, but not resistance (d = 0.03, CI -0.11~0.17) or disorganization (d = 0.08, CI -0.06~0.22), was significantly associated with internalizing symptoms (d = 0.17, CI 0.03~0.31). Insecurity and disorganization were more strongly associated with externalizing than internalizing symptoms. Discussion focuses on the significance of Attachment for the development of internalizing versus externalizing symptomatology.
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research review genetic vulnerability or differential susceptibility in child development the case of Attachment
Journal of Child Psychology and Psychiatry, 2007Co-Authors: Marian J Bakermanskranenburg, Marinus H Van IjzendoornAbstract:Gene-environment interactions interpreted in terms of differential susceptibility may play a large part in the explanation of individual differences in human development. Reviewing studies on the behavioral and molecular genetics of Attachment, we present evidence for interactions between genetic and environmental factors explaining individual differences in Attachment security and disorganization. In particular, the DRD4 7-repeat polymorphism seems associated with an increased risk for Disorganized Attachment, but only when combined with environmental risk. Gene-environment (G x E) interactions may be interpreted as genetic vulnerability or differential susceptibility. We found support for the differential susceptibility hypothesis predicting not only more negative outcomes for susceptible children in unfavorable environments, but also positive outcomes for susceptible children in favorable environments.
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Attachment cognitive and motor development in adopted children short term outcomes after international adoption
Journal of Pediatric Psychology, 2007Co-Authors: Monique W Van Londen, Femmie Juffer, Marinus H Van IjzendoornAbstract:Objective To examine infant Attachment and developmental functioning shortly after international adoption. Methods At 14 months, infant–mother Attachment and mental (MDI) and psychomotor (PDI) development were assessed in 70 internationally adopted children. Mean age at arrival was 5.5 months, mean stay in the adoptive family 8.7 months. Results Adopted children’s MDI and PDI did not deviate from normative scores. Also, their secure–insecure Attachment distribution was comparable with that of normative groups. However, more adoptees were Disorganized attached (36 vs. 15% in normative groups). Temporary residence in a foster home in the country of origin before adoption was related to higher MDI and PDI, whereas Disorganized Attachment in the adoptive family was related to lower MDI and PDI scores. Conclusions The majority of internationally adopted children form secure Attachment relationships and function at normative developmental levels shortly after adoption. Residence in a foster family before adoption may partly prevent developmental delays.
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Disorganized infant Attachment and preventive interventions a review and meta analysis
Tradition, 2005Co-Authors: Marian J Bakermanskranenburg, Marinus H Van Ijzendoorn, Femmie JufferAbstract:Infant Disorganized Attachment is a major risk factor for problematic stress management and later problem behavior. Can the emergence of Attachment disorganization be prevented? The current narrative review and quantitative meta-analysis involves 15 preventive interventions (N = 842) that included infant Disorganized Attachment as an outcome measure. The effectiveness of the interventions ranged from negative to positive, with an overall effect size of d = 0.05 (ns). Effective interventions started after 6 months of the infant's age (d = 0.23). Interventions that focused on sensitivity only were significantly more effective in reducing Attachment disorganization (d = 0.24) than interventions that (also) focused on support and parent's mental representations (d = -0.04). Most sample characteristics were not associated with differences in effect sizes, but studies with children at risk were more successful (d = 0.29) than studies with at-risk parents (d = -0.10), and studies on samples with higher percentages of Disorganized Attachment in the control groups were more effective (d = 0.31) than studies with lower percentages of Disorganized children in the control group (d = -0.18). The meta-analysis shows that Disorganized Attachments may change as a side effect of sensitivity-focused interventions, but it also illustrates the need for interventions specifically focusing on the prevention of disorganization.
Karlen Lyonsruth - One of the best experts on this subject based on the ideXlab platform.
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Disorganized Attachment interactions among young adults with borderline personality disorder other diagnoses and no diagnosis
Journal of Personality Disorders, 2020Co-Authors: Jennifer E Khoury, Kate Zona, Eszter Bertha, Lois W Choikain, Kate Hennighausen, Karlen LyonsruthAbstract:Theorists have suggested that Attachment disorganization contributes to the development of borderline personality disorder (BPD). However, few studies have directly observed Attachment-related interactions with parents. This study used a newly developed Attachment-based coding system to examine whether individuals with BPD were more likely to exhibit Disorganized interactions with their mothers than those with (a) other diagnoses (anxiety, depressive, or substance use diagnoses) or (b) no diagnosis. Results indicated that participants with BPD had a greater likelihood of Disorganized Attachment interactions than did both comparison groups. The odds ratio for Disorganized Attachment among BPD participants was almost 8 times that of participants without BPD. These results underscore the utility of observational assessments to capture the interpersonal features of BPD and highlight the potential value of examining the developmental trajectories of Disorganized and controlling Attachment behavior in order to identify pathways toward BPD.
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mother infant joint attention and sharing relations to Disorganized Attachment and maternal disrupted communication
Journal of Genetic Psychology, 2014Co-Authors: Seungyeon Annie Yoon, Gwendolyn A Kelso, Anna Lock, Karlen LyonsruthAbstract:ABSTRACTThe normative development of infant shared attention has been studied extensively, but few studies have examined the impact of Disorganized Attachment and disturbed maternal caregiving on mother–infant shared attention. The authors examined both maternal initiations of joint attention and infants’ responses to those initiations during the reunion episodes of the Strange Situation Procedure at 12 and 18 months of infant age. The mothers' initiations of joint attention and three forms of infant response, including shunning, simple joint attention, and sharing attention, were examined in relation to infant Disorganized Attachment and maternal disrupted communication. Mothers who were disrupted in communication with their infants at 18 months initiated fewer bids for joint attention at 12 months, and, at 18 months, mothers of infants classified Disorganized initiated fewer bids. However, the infant' responses were unrelated to either the infant' or the mother' disturbed Attachment. At both ages, disor...
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infant Attachment strategies infant mental lag and maternal depressive symptoms predictors of internalizing and externalizing problems at age 7
Developmental Psychology, 1997Co-Authors: Karlen Lyonsruth, Ann M Easterbrooks, Cherilyn Davidson CibelliAbstract:The predictive relations between assessments in infancy and parent- and teacher-reported behavior problems at age 7 were investigated within a low-income sample. Infancy assessments indexed family adversity, parent-infant interaction at home, infant Attachment, infant anger-distress at home, gender, and cognitive functioning. Among children at age 7 identified by teachers as highly externalizing, 83% were both Disorganized in their Attachment behavior in infancy and below the national mean in mental development scores at 18 months, compared with 13% of nonexternalizing children. Avoidant Attachment behavior in infancy was associated with later internalizing symptoms rather than with externalizing symptoms. The behavior problem data reported by mother suggested the possibility of Attachment-related biases in maternal report data. The results indicate that child mental lag in the context of a Disorganized Attachment relationship constitutes 1 early step on the pathway to school-age externalizing behavior.
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Attachment relationships among children with aggressive behavior problems the role of Disorganized early Attachment patterns
Journal of Consulting and Clinical Psychology, 1996Co-Authors: Karlen LyonsruthAbstract:This article reviews recent Attachment-related studies of early aggression. That aggressive behavior toward peers is related to Disorganized or controlling patterns of Attachment behavior toward parents but not to avoidant or ambivalent patterns. Longitudinal Attachment studies indicate that risk factors identified in cross-sectional studies of aggressive school-age children, such as family adversity, parental hostility, parental depression, and child cognitive deficits, are already evident in infancy and predictive of later aggression, before the onset of coercive child behavior. In infancy, these risk factors are associated with Disorganized Attachment behaviors toward the caregiver characterized by signs of fear or dysphoria, irresolvable conflict between opposing behavioral tendencies, and elevated cortisol levels after separation. Disorganized Attachment behaviors, in turn, predict aggression in school-age children with other family factors controlled.
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Disorganized infant Attachment classification and maternal psychosocial problems as predictors of hostile aggressive behavior in the preschool classroom
Child Development, 1993Co-Authors: Karlen Lyonsruth, Lisbeth Alpern, Betty M RepacholiAbstract:This study of 62 low-income families examined the relation between maternal and infant measures assessed at 18 months infant age and child behavior problems at age 5 as rated by preschool teachers. The infancy assessments included measures of mother-infant interaction, maternal psychosocial problems, infant cognitive development, and infant Attachment security, including the Disorganized/disoriented classification. The strongest single predictor of deviant levels of hostile behavior toward peers in the classroom was earlier Disorganized/disoriented Attachment status, with 71% of hostile preschoolers classified as Disorganized in their Attachment relationships in infancy. Maternal psychosocial problems independently predicted hostile aggression in preschool and combined additively with infant Attachment security in prediction. Results are discussed in relation to the asymmetry of forward and backward prediction that characterized the findings and in relation to the potential significance of Disorganized Attachment behavior as a precursor to later maladaptation.
Karin C Brocki - One of the best experts on this subject based on the ideXlab platform.
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Disorganized Attachment representations externalizing behavior problems and socioemotional competences in early school age
Attachment & Human Development, 2020Co-Authors: Tommie Forslund, Mikko J Peltola, Karin C BrockiAbstract:ABSTRACTMultifactorial research must examine if Disorganized Attachment is specifically associated with either ODD- or ADHD-symptoms,and the mechanisms through which disorganization may become asso...
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the heterogeneity of attention deficit hyperactivity disorder symptoms and conduct problems cognitive inhibition emotion regulation emotionality and Disorganized Attachment
British Journal of Development Psychology, 2016Co-Authors: Tommie Forslund, Gunilla Bohlin, Karin C Brocki, Pehr Granqvist, Lilianne EningerAbstract:This study examined the contributions of several important domains of functioning to attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) symptoms and conduct problems. Specifically, we investigated whether cognitive inhibition, emotion regulation, emotionality, and Disorganized Attachment made independent and specific contributions to these externalizing behaviour problems from a multiple pathways perspective. The study included laboratory measures of cognitive inhibition and Disorganized Attachment in 184 typically developing children (M age = 6 years, 10 months, SD = 1.7). Parental ratings provided measures of emotion regulation, emotionality, and externalizing behaviour problems. Results revealed that cognitive inhibition, regulation of positive emotion, and positive emotionality were independently and specifically related to ADHD symptoms. Disorganized Attachment and negative emotionality formed independent and specific relations to conduct problems. Our findings support the multiple pathways perspective on ADHD, with poor regulation of positive emotion and high positive emotionality making distinct contributions to ADHD symptoms. More specifically, our results support the proposal of a temperamentally based pathway to ADHD symptoms. The findings also indicate that Disorganized Attachment and negative emotionality constitute pathways specific to conduct problems rather than to ADHD symptoms.
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Disorganized Attachment and inhibitory capacity predicting externalizing problem behaviors
Journal of Abnormal Child Psychology, 2012Co-Authors: Gunilla Bohlin, Lilianne Eninger, Karin C Brocki, Lisa B ThorellAbstract:The aim of the present study was to investigate whether Attachment insecurity, focusing on Disorganized Attachment, and the executive function (EF) component of inhibition, assessed at age 5, were longitudinally related to general externalizing problem behaviors as well as to specific symptoms of ADHD and Autism spectrum disorder (ASD), and callous-unemotional (CU) traits. General externalizing problem behaviors were also measured at age 5 to allow for a developmental analysis. Outcome variables were rated by parents and teachers. The sample consisted of 65 children with an oversampling of children with high levels of externalizing behaviors. Attachment was evaluated using a story stem Attachment doll play procedure. Inhibition was measured using four different tasks. The results showed that both Disorganized Attachment and poor inhibition were longitudinally related to all outcome variables. Controlling for initial level of externalizing problem behavior, poor inhibition predicted ADHD symptoms and externalizing problem behaviors, independent of Disorganized Attachment, whereas for ASD symptoms no predictive relations remained. Disorganized Attachment independently predicted CU traits.
Diane Benoit - One of the best experts on this subject based on the ideXlab platform.
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Exploration of the links among fathers' unresolved states of mind with respect to Attachment, atypical paternal behavior, and Disorganized infant-father Attachment.
Infant mental health journal, 2011Co-Authors: Sheri Madigan, Diane Benoit, Catherine BoucherAbstract:Atypical maternal behavior has consistently been identified as a precursor of Disorganized infant-mother Attachment, but to date, no research has examined the role of atypical paternal behavior in the development of Disorganized infant-father Attachment. This study aims to enhance our understanding and conceptualization of infant-father Attachment by examining the role of fathers' unresolved states of mind and the display of atypical paternal behavior in the development of Disorganized infant-father Attachment. Thirty-one middle-class couples participated in this study. Maternal and paternal Adult Attachment Interviews (C. George, N. Kaplan, & M. Main, 1996) were completed prenatally and at infant age 6 months, respectively. Infant-mother and infant-father dyads participated in the Strange Situation paradigm (M. Ainsworth, M. Blehar, E. Waters, & S. Wall, 1978) when the infants were 12 and 18 months of age, respectively. The Atypical Maternal Behavior Instrument for Assessment and Classification (E. Bronfman, E. Parsons, & K. Lyons-Ruth, 1999) was used to assess maternal and paternal behavior during the Strange Situation. Maternal states of mind regarding Attachment predicted infant-mother Attachment relationships, and paternal states of mind predicted infant-father Attachment relationships. Atypical maternal behavior was associated with infant-mother Disorganized Attachment; however, atypical paternal behavior did not predict infant-father Disorganized Attachment. Thus, it is possible that other factors, yet to be uncovered, might contribute to the development of infant-father Disorganized Attachment.
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caregivers disrupted representations of the unborn child predict later infant caregiver Disorganized Attachment and disrupted interactions
Tradition, 2009Co-Authors: Allison Crawford, Diane BenoitAbstract:Infant Disorganized Attachment is a significant predictor for later psychopathology. The Working Model of the Child Interview (WMCI; C.H. Zeanah, D. Benoit, & M.L. Barton, 1986) elicits and classifies caregivers' perceptions and subjective experience of their child and relationship with the child, which are related to concurrent and future Attachment to the caregiver. However, when the WMCI was first developed, the Disorganized Attachment classification had not been fully developed, so the original WMCI did not include a classification that is linked to Disorganized Attachment. We adapted the WMCI coding scheme to include items similar to those identified by K. Lyons-Ruth, E. Bronfman, and E. Parsons (using the Atypical Maternal Behavior Instrument for Assessment and Classification, or AMBIANCE, 1999), which reflect disrupted caregiver behaviors associated with Disorganized Attachment. This resulted in a new WMCI-Disrupted (WMCI-D) scale and classification, disrupted. WMCI-D was used to code 35 WMCIs administered prenatally. A prenatal disrupted classification was significantly associated with caregiver unresolved classification on the Adult Attachment Interview (M. Main, N. Kaplan, & J. Cassidy, 1985), infant Disorganized Strange Situation classification (M.D.S. Ainsworth, M.C. Blehar, E. Waters, & S. Wall, 1978), and disrupted caregiver behaviors toward the infant (using AMBIANCE; K. Lyons-Ruth et al., 1999), at infant age 12 months. These data suggest WMCI-D can capture disrupted caregiver internal representations, and identify dyads at risk for Disorganized Attachment and caregivers with unresolved mourning/trauma. These data also provide evidence for the convergent and predictive validity of the WMCI-D Scale.
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Attachment and selective attention disorganization and emotional stroop reaction time
Development and Psychopathology, 2009Co-Authors: Leslie Atkinson, Diane Benoit, Susan Goldberg, Kirsten Blokland, Eman Leung, Lori Poulton, Natalie Myhal, Sheila KerrAbstract:Although central to Attachment theory, internal working models remain a useful heuristic in need of concretization. We compared the selective attention of organized and Disorganized mothers using the emotional Stroop task. Both Disorganized Attachment and emotional Stroop response involve the coordination of strongly conflicting motivations under conditions of emotional arousal. Furthermore, much is known about the cognitive and neuromodulatory correlates of the Stroop that may inform attempts to substantiate the internal working model construct. We assessed 47 community mothers with the Adult Attachment Interview and the Working Model of the Child Interview in the third trimester of pregnancy. At 6 and 12 months postpartum, we assessed mothers with emotional Stroop tasks involving neutral, Attachment, and emotion conditions. At 12 months, we observed their infants in the Strange Situation. Results showed that: Disorganized Attachment is related to relative Stroop reaction time, that is, unlike organized mothers, Disorganized mothers respond to negative Attachment/emotion stimuli more slowly than to neutral stimuli; relative speed of response is positively related to number of times the dyad was classified Disorganized, and change in relative Stroop response time from 6 to 12 months is related to the match-mismatch status of mother and infant Attachment classifications. We discuss implications in terms of automatic and controlled processing and, more specifically, cognitive threat tags, parallel distributed processing, and neuromodulation through norepenephrine and dopamine.
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Infant-parent Attachment: Definition, types, antecedents, measurement and outcome
Paediatrics and Child Health, 2004Co-Authors: Diane BenoitAbstract:Attachment theory is one of the most popular and empirically grounded theories relating to parenting. The purpose of the present article is to review some pertinent aspects of Attachment theory and findings from Attachment research. Attachment is one specific aspect of the relationship between a child and a parent with its purpose being to make a child safe, secure and protected. Attachment is distinguished from other aspects of parenting, such as disciplining, entertaining and teaching. Common misconceptions about what Attachment is and what it is not are discussed. The distinction between Attachment and bonding is provided. The recognized method to assess infant-parent Attachment, the Strange Situation procedure, is described. In addition, a description is provided for the four major types of infant-parent Attachment, ie, secure, insecure-avoidant, insecure-resistant and insecure-Disorganized. The antecedents and consequences of each of the four types of infant-parent Attachment are discussed. A special emphasis is placed on the description of Disorganized Attachment because of its association with significant emotional and behavioural problems, and poor social and emotional outcomes in high-risk groups and in the majority of children who have Disorganized Attachment with their primary caregiver. Practical applications of Attachment theory and research are presented.
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Atypical maternal behavior, maternal representations, and infant Disorganized Attachment.
Development and psychopathology, 2003Co-Authors: Susan Goldberg, Diane Benoit, Kirsten Blokland, Sheri MadiganAbstract:The data for 197 mother–infant pairs from two longitudinal studies were analyzed to assess relations between maternal Attachment representations; atypical maternal behavior, coded with a new tool, Atypical Maternal Behavior Instrument for Assessment and Classification (AMBIANCE), and infant Attachment. Both maternal and infant Attachment were systematically related to atypical maternal behavior: mothers who were Unresolved on the Adult Attachment Interview and those whose infants were Disorganized in the Strange Situation Procedure engaged in more atypical behaviors than those who were not Unresolved and whose infants showed organized patterns of Attachment, respectively. Regression analyses indicated that when tested as a mediator, atypical maternal behavior as measured on the AMBIANCE did not reduce the association between maternal Unresolved status and infant Disorganized Attachment. This may, in part, reflect the fact that our low-risk sample did not include enough cases in the risk categories. These data provide preliminary empirical validation for the AMBIANCE and strengthen the evidence for links between atypical maternal behavior and Disorganized Attachment but indicate that in addition to maternal Attachment representations, other factors must contribute to atypical maternal behavior.