Attachment disorganization in infancy: a developmental precursor to maladaptive social information processing at age eight
Date
2017
Authors
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Publisher
University of Delaware
Abstract
The goal of the current study was to examine relations between attachment
security and organization in infancy and social information processing at age eight.
The sample included 77 children at high risk for maltreatment. Attachment quality
was assessed using the Strange Situation, when children were on average 19.4 monthsold.
Children’s social information processing patterns were assessed using the Social
Information Processing Application (SIP-AP), a video-based measure developed to
assess distinct stages of social information processing, when children were
approximately 8.4-years-old. Attachment organization in infancy predicted hostile
attributional bias and aggressive goals in middle childhood. More specifically,
children with disorganized attachments interpreted ambiguous provocations more
negatively (as indicating more hostility, rejection, and disrespect and as resulting in
more anger) and endorsed significantly more revenge and dominance goals than
children with organized attachments. Attachment disorganization did not predict
aggressive responses or aggressive response evaluation, and attachment insecurity did
not predict any stages of social information processing. Results further our
understanding of the problematic long-term outcomes associated with attachment
disorganization in infancy, especially for children who have experienced early
adversity, and suggest that these children are at risk for developing problematic peer
relations in middle childhood. Findings are discussed in terms of strengths and
limitations of the study and suggestions for future research.
Description
Keywords
Psychology, Attachment, Hostile attributional bias, Social information processing