Term of Award
Spring 2009
Degree Name
Master of Science in Experimental Psychology (M.S.)
Document Type and Release Option
Thesis (open access)
Copyright Statement / License for Reuse
This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 License.
Department
Department of Psychology
Committee Chair
Janice Kennedy
Committee Member 1
Karen Naufel
Committee Member 2
Lawrence Locker
Abstract
Research investigating infant attachment has demonstrated the benefits of infants' secure attachment to their mothers. While Ainsworth (1973) has determined four maternal behaviors, tender holding, stimulation, contingent responding and maternal sensitivity to infant signals, that promote a secure attachment in infants, are there other behaviors a mother could perform to promote a secure attachment in her infant? Whether infant attachment classification could be predicted from maternal holding patterns was investigated in the current study. Infant attachment classification was determined by infant behavior in Ainsworth's Strange Situation Procedure. Maternal holding patterns were comprised of eight holding behaviors. Results revealed that mothers of avoidant infants held their infants at a significantly further distance away from their torsos than mothers of secure, ambivalent and disorganized infants. Additionally securely attached infants initiated holds significantly more than disorganized infants. Results are discussed in terms of applications of this research for new mothers.
Recommended Citation
Beam, Lauren, "Are Holding Patterns Predictive of Infant Attachment Classification in 12 to 18 Month Old Infants?" (2009). Electronic Theses and Dissertations. 426.
https://digitalcommons.georgiasouthern.edu/etd/426
Research Data and Supplementary Material
No
