PERCEPTIONS OF INFANT BOYS BEHAVIOR AND MENTAL-HEALTH - RELATION TO INFANT ATTACHMENT

Two studies were conducted to determine the impact of infants' attachm ent classifications and behaviors on naive adults' impressions of thei r behavior and mental health. In Study 1, three groups of 44 adults vi ewed a videotape of episode 8 of the Strange Situation for either an a voidant, a resistant, or a secure male infant. After viewing the video tape, they made judgments about aspects of the infant's mental health. Adults viewed the resistant baby as less socially competent and more negative in affect than the other two babies and the secure baby as th e least independent of the three babies. Parents rated babies as more intelligent than did nonparents. In Study 2, 15 parents were matched o n race and gender with 15 nonparents. All adults viewed a videotape of the reunions of two secure, two avoidant, and two resistant male infa nts. Avoidant babies were viewed as more socially competent and indepe ndent than secure babies and the C2 baby was viewed as the least intel ligent, least independent, least socially competent, and most affectiv ely negative of the infants. Results are interpreted as underscoring t he need to educate parents and paraprofessionals about the importance of infant distress and physical contact with parents.