Transitional object attachments in early childhood and personality characteristics in later life

The present study empirically assessed aspects of transitional object attachments formed in early childhood and their relationship to personality characteristics in later life. Subjects were college students enrolled in introductory psychology courses. They were assigned to either a transitional object group or a no transitional object group based on self- and parental reports obtained from a detailed questionnaire focusing on early object attachments. Stringent criteria of inanimate object attachments were used in selecting subjects. Subjects selected for the study were administered the Sixteen Personality Factor Questionnaire. Significant personality differences were found between the groups. These preliminary objective findings were discussed in terms of the role of concrete object attachments in early childhood and areas for further research.