by Erin Yorke

Created on: June 30, 2008   Last Updated: July 05, 2008

The observation of both overall patterns as well as common variations of attachment has been essential to our growing understanding of the general characteristics of children and their way of relating to their caregivers. Nevertheless, the origin of individual differences in mother- infant attachments has also been considered important from a developmental perspective. Differences in infant attachment have been shown to predict later differences in the growing childs abiility to function. In 1984, a study devoting itself to this issue was published. One should note, however, that although the study was somewhat longitudinal, in that it followed the infants and mothers until 9 months of age, it does not concern itself with long term functioning. The detailed descriptions of different patterns of mother-infant attachments are noteworthy because they show different variations of an important foundation for later mental and social development. As such, they show a lot about the individual person by exploring an essential root of human psychological development. The study was called The Pennsylvania Infant and Family Development Project, III: The Origins of Individual Differences in Infant- Mother Attachment: Maternal and Infant Contributions. (Belsky, Rovine, and Taylor, 1984).

Differences in individual mothers parenting styles and abilities to respond appropriately to their infants was shown to have clearly distinguishable outcomes. Children and mothers were tested at 1, 3, and 9 months of age on their interaction with their mothers. The researchers ranked mother-infant dyads according to attachment- secure, avoidant, or resistant. They tested the theory that infants who avoid their mothers avoid them because their mothers fail to give them enough bodily contact. They also tested the theory that resistant infants avoid their mothers because of being left alone for long periods of time. The theory that resistant infants avoid their mothers because they are overstimulated was also tested. The data collected seemed to provide some support for these theories. However, it was unclear whether the infants or the mothers behaviour was more responsible for the attahment relationship. The researchers had no way of knowing whether or not the specific behaviours they examined, in their composite of infant behaviour, were the best indicators of the infants role in the mother-child attachment.

There are several factors which can make secure attachment relationships between

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