ATTACHMENT PATTERNS AT AGE-6 IN SOUTH GERMANY - PREDICTABILITY FROM INFANCY AND IMPLICATIONS FOR PRESCHOOL BEHAVIOR

A cross-cultural replication of concordance between attachment pattern s to mother in infancy and patterns of reunion responses to mother at age 6 was tested for 40 children in Regensburg, South Germany. Concord ance between the 4 types of attachment status (A, B, C, D) in infancy and at age 6 was 82%. When observed in preschool at age 5, children cl assified securely attached (B) at age 6 were more competent in their p lay quality and conflict resolution, showed fewer behavior problems, a nd attributed less hostility in a social perception picture test compa red to the insecurely attached (A, D) children. Children classified di sorganized (D) at age 6 were found almost as often in the incompetent preschool behavior groups as the avoidantly attached (A) children, ind ependent of best-fitting alternative attachment pattern. Thus, disorga nization at age 6 may be considered as an insecure attachment.