Are Holding Patterns Predictive of Infant Attachment Classification in 12 to 18 Month Old Infants?

Research investigating infant attachment has demonstrated the benefits of infants' secure attachment to their mothers. While Ainsworth (1973) has determined four maternal behaviors, tender holding, stimulation, contingent responding and maternal sensitivity to infant signals, that promote a secure attachment in infants, are there other behaviors a mother could perform to promote a secure attachment in her infant? Whether infant attachment classification could be predicted from maternal holding patterns was investigated in the current study. Infant attachment classification was determined by infant behavior in Ainsworth's Strange Situation Procedure. Maternal holding patterns were comprised of eight holding behaviors. Results revealed that mothers of avoidant infants held their infants at a significantly further distance away from their torsos than mothers of secure, ambivalent and disorganized infants. Additionally securely attached infants initiated holds significantly more than disorganized infants. Results are discussed in terms of applications of this research for new mothers.

Name thesis:degree_name

Master of Science in Experimental Psychology (M.S.)

Level thesis:degree_level

Thesis (open access)

Discipline thesis:degree_discipline

Department of Psychology

Year dc:date.available

2009

Author dc:creator

• Beam, Lauren

Contributors dc:contributor

• Karen Naufel
• Lawrence Locker

• ETD
• Infants
• Attachment classifications
• Holding
• Strange situation procedure
• Parent and infant
• Infant psychology

Repository record dc:identifier

https://digitalcommons.georgiasouthern.edu/etd/426

OAI identifier oai:identifier

oai:digitalcommons.georgiasouthern.edu:etd-1426