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The development of negative reactivity in irritable newborns as a function of attachment

Laura J Sherman1, Brandi Stupica, Matthew J Dykas

  • 1Department of Psychology, University of Maryland, College Park, MD 20742, USA. jernigan@umd.edu

Infant Behavior & Development
|January 5, 2013
PubMed

Insights

Infants

Area of Science:

  • Developmental Psychology
  • Infant Emotional Development
  • Attachment Theory

Background:

  • Infants' negative reactivity to frustration is a key aspect of emotional development.
  • Previous research has not definitively linked infant attachment to differing developmental trajectories of frustration reactivity.
  • Understanding these links is crucial for early identification and intervention.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To investigate if infants' negative reactivity to frustration changes over the first year based on their attachment classification.
  • To examine the developmental course of frustration reactivity in relation to secure, insecure-avoidant, and insecure-ambivalent attachment styles.
  • To build upon existing attachment theory regarding emotion regulation strategies.

Main Methods:

  • Longitudinal study of 84 irritable infants.
  • Observational assessment of infant negative reactivity at 5 and 12 months, without parental involvement.
  • Classification of infant attachment styles.

Main Results:

  • No significant differences in reactivity were observed between attachment groups at 5 months.
  • By 12 months, insecure-avoidant infants showed the least reactivity, secure infants showed moderate reactivity, and insecure-ambivalent infants exhibited the most reactivity.
  • Findings support the proposition that attachment influences the development of emotion regulation strategies.

Conclusions:

  • Infant attachment classification predicts the developmental trajectory of negative reactivity to frustration.
  • Insecure-avoidant infants may minimize emotional reactions, while insecure-ambivalent infants may maximize them by 12 months.
  • Results offer insights into emotion regulation development and have implications for future research and clinical practice.

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