Attachment behavior: a validation study in two age groups.
To assess the validity of attachment scores derived from the Ainsworth "strange situation," 56 1-year-olds and 79 2-year-olds accompanied by either the mother, the father, or a brief acquaintance were studied. Proximity to the adult, duration of play, crying, activity, and the incidence of looks and distance bids were measured. 1-year-olds were more secure with their parents: they were more active, played more, cried less, and stood closer to their parents than to an acquaintance. 2-year-olds accompanied by their parents were less settled in the presence of a stranger than children accompanied by the acquaintance. The adequacy of current conceptions and measures of attachment was discussed in light of these results.
D000328:Adult; D000367:Age Factors; D002675:Child, Preschool; D005106:Exploratory Behavior; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007223:Infant; D008297:Male; D009769:Object Attachment; D010287:Parent-Child Relations; D012951:Socialization