Author: Matas, Leah; Arend, Richard A.; Sroufe, L. Alan
Description: A perspective on continuity in development and adaptation is proposed and examined in light of data from the 2nd yr of life. It is assumed that despite discontinuous advances in developmental level and despite dramatic changes in the behavioral repertoire, there is continuity in the quality of individual adaptation. Such quality is assessed by examining the child’s functioning with respect to issues salient for the particular developmental period. In this study the link between quality of attachment in infancy (the organization of attachment behavior) and quality of play and problem-solving behavior at age 2 yrs was examined in 48 infants. Based on completely independent assessments, the 23 Ss assessed as securely attached at 18 mo were predicted and found to be significantly more enthusiastic, persistent, cooperative, and, in general, more effective than the 25 insecurely attached (i.e., 15 avoidant and 10 ambivalent) Ss in the 2-yr assessment. All measures were in the predicted direction; in some cases there was virtually no overlap between groups. The differences apparently were not due to development quotient or temperament. The earlier infant behavior also predicted mother’s behavior in the 2-yr assessment. Implications for developmental theory and research are discussed.
Subject headings: Continuity of Adaptation; Second year of life; Attachment; Competence; Child; Infant; Mother; Behavior
Publication year: 1978
Journal or book title: Child Development
Volume: 49
Issue: 3
Pages: 547-556
Find the full text: https://www.jstor.org/stable/1128221
Find more like this one (cited by): https://scholar.google.com/scholar?cites=927904937667275373&as_sdt=1000005&sciodt=0,16&hl=en
Serial number: 3806