title: Links between attachment and social information processing: examination of intergenerational processes.
abstract: This chapter describes theory and research on intergenerational connections between parents' attachment and children's social information processing, as well as between parents' social information processing and children's attachment. The chapter begins with a discussion of attachment theorists' early insights into the role that social information processing plays in attachment processes. Next, current theory about the mechanisms through which cross-generational links between attachment and social information processing might emerge is presented. The central proposition is that the quality of attachment and/or the social information processing of the parent contributes to the quality of attachment and/or social information processing in the child, and these links emerge through mediating processes related to social learning, open communication, gate-keeping, emotion regulation, and joint attention. A comprehensive review of the literature is then presented. The chapter ends with the presentation of a current theoretical perspective and suggestions for future empirical and clinical endeavors.
authors: Department of Psychology, State University of New York at Oswego, New York, USA.
authors: Matthew J
authors: MJ
authors: Dykas
authors: Katherine B
authors: KB
authors: Ehrlich
authors: Jude
authors: J
authors: Cassidy
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D001364:Awareness; D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D006801:Humans; D007223:Infant; D016901:Intergenerational Relations; D007389:Internal-External Control; D008425:Maternal Behavior; D011939:Mental Recall; D008960:Models, Psychological; D009034:Mother-Child Relations; D009769:Object Attachment; D011582:Psychological Theory; D012649:Self Concept; D012931:Social Environment; D012938:Social Perception