Related Experiment Video
Updated: Aug 12, 2026
10:43
Developing Neuroimaging Phenotypes of the Default Mode Network in PTSD: Integrating the Resting State, Working Memory, and Structural Connectivity
Published on: July 1, 2014
A prospective longitudinal study of attachment disorganization/disorientation
1Institute of Child Development, University of Minnesota, Minneapolis 55455, USA. carls032@maroon.tc.umn.edu
Child Development
|October 13, 1998
Summary
Attachment disorganization is linked to environmental factors, not internal ones. Early disorganization predicts later child behavior problems and adolescent psychopathology.
Area of Science:
- Developmental psychology
- Psychopathology research
- Attachment theory
Background:
- Attachment disorganization is a complex phenomenon.
- Understanding its origins and outcomes is crucial for developmental psychopathology.
- Longitudinal studies are essential for tracking developmental trajectories.
Purpose of the Study:
- To prospectively examine the antecedents and consequences of attachment disorganization.
- To investigate the relationship between attachment disorganization and endogenous/environmental factors.
- To analyze the long-term behavioral and psychological outcomes of attachment disorganization.
Main Methods:
- Prospective longitudinal study design.
- Involved 157 participants followed from infancy to adolescence (19 years).
- Correlational analyses and structural modeling were employed.
Main Results:
- Attachment disorganization significantly correlated with environmental antecedents like caregiving quality and maltreatment history.
- No significant correlation found with endogenous antecedents (maternal history, infant temperament).
- Early attachment disorganization predicted later mother-child relationship quality, child behavior problems, and adolescent psychopathology/dissociation.
Conclusions:
- Environmental factors are key antecedents of attachment disorganization.
- Attachment disorganization acts as a mediator between early experiences and later psychopathology.
- Findings support a developmental perspective on psychopathology as an adaptive process.
More Related Videos
Related Concept Videos
02:30Naturalistic Observations
If you want to understand how behavior occurs, one of the best ways to gain information is to simply observe the behavior in its natural context. However, people might change their behavior in unexpected ways if they know they are being observed. How do researchers obtain accurate information when people tend to hide their natural behavior? As an example, imagine that your professor asks everyone in your class to raise their hand if they always wash their hands after using the restroom. Chances...
03:34Theory of Romantic Attachment in Adulthood
Attachment is a long-standing connection or bond with others. While Attachment Theory was conceived in developmental psychology to describe infant-caregiver bonding, it's been extended into adulthood to include romantic relationships.
01:20Attachment
Attachment is vital for infant development, as warm social interactions support growth and well-being. In a classic 1958 study by Harry Harlow, the significance of warmth and comfort in forming attachments was examined. Harlow separated newborn monkeys from their mothers and provided two artificial "mothers": one made of cold wire and the other covered in soft cloth. Despite the wire mother offering food, the infant monkeys preferred the comfort of the cloth mother, demonstrating that physical...
01:30Oppositional Defiant Disorder
A persistent pattern of angry or irritable mood, defiant behavior, or vindictiveness characterizes Oppositional Defiant Disorder (ODD). Symptoms must occur over at least six months, involve interactions with individuals beyond siblings, and meet specific diagnostic criteria to be clinically significant. The disorder affects emotional regulation, social interactions, and behavior, often manifesting early in life and influencing long-term development and functioning.
Diagnostic Criteria and...
Diagnostic Criteria and...
01:24Attachment Styles
Jeffrey Simpson's attachment theory suggests that early caregiver relationships shape lasting patterns of behavior and emotional regulation, known as attachment styles. These patterns are organized along two key dimensions: self-esteem and interpersonal trust. The intersection of these dimensions produces four primary attachment styles that typically persist throughout life and significantly influence how individuals form and maintain relationships.Secure Attachment StyleIndividuals with a...
01:28Hazan and Shaver's Attachment Styles
Attachment theory, developed initially to explain infant–caregiver bonds, has been extended to illuminate patterns of intimacy in adult romantic relationships. Psychologists Cindy Hazan and Phillip Shaver proposed that the attachment styles observed in infancy form a framework for how individuals approach emotional closeness and conflict in adulthood. These attachment styles—secure, avoidant, and anxious—are linked to enduring patterns of behavior and emotional regulation in adult relationships.