Caregiving Cultural and Cognitive Perspectives on Secure-based Behavior and Working Models

The attachment bond that develops between infant and mother is the first of many intimate relationships formed throughout life. But how does the quality of the secure base phenomena that defines this bond vary among individuals and across cultures? What methods can be used to assess its presence and characteristics? Following an interview with Mary S. Ainsworth, this monograph brings together 11 papers that aim to consolidate understanding of the empirical advances that have occurred in attachment research. The collection is organized into three sections. Part One includes papers on the generalizability of attachment theory and data, including cross-cultural research. Part Two addresses both normative and individual differences among mothers, children, caregivers, and their interactions - and methods for the valid assessment of these. Part Three examines the mental representations that children use to depict their different attachment relationships. Together these papers aim to stimulate child development specialists and students to explore different assessment methods.