Maternal interactive behaviour in early infancy and later attachment

Evolutionary considerations (cf. MacDonald, 1992) suggest that emotional cl oseness and security of attachment address different functional systems. We assume that maternal sensitivity during early face-to-face interactions is related to later emotional closeness, whereas the contingency of maternal reactions towards the infant's signals is related to later security of atta chment. Forty-three mother-infant dyads were videotaped at home during face -to-face interactions when the infants were 3 months old, and were seen in the strange situation when the infants were 12 months old. Results confirm the assumptions, with significant correlations between early face-to-face s ensitivity and later contact seeking, maintaining, and avoiding behaviour o f the infant during the reunion episodes of the strange situation. Early ma ternal face-to-face contingency was related to later security of attachment .