The relationship between affective responses in preseparation episodes and patterns of attachment behaviors in the Strange Situation

Abstract

Fifty-six first born Japanese 12-month-old infants were observed in the Strange Situation and the relationship between affective responses in the preseparation episodes and patterns of attachment behaviors in the following episodes was examined. In the preseparation episodes, 18 infants were rated as displaying distress (HS) and 38 infants did not display distress (LS). HS infants were acutely distressed in the separation episodes, and did not easily recover from distress even after regaining close physical contact with mother in the reunion episodes. In contrast, LS infants did not show distress in the first separation and reunion episodes. Although they were distressed in the second separation, they recovered more easily than HS infants in the second reunion episode. Resistant behaviors in the second reunion were observed more frequently and were stronger in HS infants than LS infants. Eighty-three percent of B4 and C were HS infants and 84% of B were LS infants. These results indicated that the affective responses in the preseparation episodes could predict the patterns of attachment behaviors in the following episodes. © 1987, The Japanese Psychological Association. All rights reserved.