Evolutionary considerations (cf. MacDonald, 1992) suggest that emotional closeness
and security of attachment address different functional systems. We assume that
maternal sensitivity during early face-to-face interactions is related to later
emotional closeness, whereas the contingency of maternal reactions towards the
infant’s signals is related to later security of attachment. Forty-three
mother-infant dyads were videotaped at home during face-to-face interactions when
the infants were 3 months old, and were seen in the strange situation when the
infants were 12 months old. Results confirm the assumptions, with significant
correlations between early face-to-face sensitivity and later contact seeking,
maintaining, and avoiding behaviour of the infant during the reunion episodes of the
strange situation. Early maternal face-to-face contingency was related to later
security of attachment.
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