DOES QUALITY OF ATTACHMENT IN A STRANGE SITUATION RELATE TO LATER COMPETENCE IN DIFFERENT SITUATIONS

Abstract

In this study, we examined whether the continuous effects of attachment was linked to later coping skills.Seven female toddlers, whose quality of attachment at 12 and 23 months of age were assessed in the Ainsworth Strange Situation.The classification across the time showed two C-Cs, two B-Bs, two C-Bs, and a B-C.Their coping behaviors were also assessed in four different situation: free play, peer play, meeting with an unfamiliar woman, and meeting with a robot at 23 months.The results showed that, among other measures in the four situations, only one, the style to use the mother as a secure base, was consistent with the attachment classification.Level and amount of spontaneous play, amount of peer interaction, compliance with an adult, and intention of approach to a robot were determined by individual "forte" skills rather than by the earlier and at-the-time attachment quality."Forte" skills also played an important role in determining individual reaction to an unfamiliar person or robot.Need of constructing transactional model consisted of skill, temperament, and attachment was proposed.