Each of these three traditional patterns of attachment are considered to represent organized strategies for dealing with the stress of separation from
the parent in a strange environment (Main, 1990), although attachment to the mother has repeatedly been found to predict less favorable outcomes than does secure attachment in later childhood (see Cassidy and Berlin, 1994, and Main, 1995, for an overview of the foregoing studies).
In the studies of early childhood, most of which focussed on mother — child interactions, maternal BPD was associated with reduced sensitivity and increased intrusivity towards the child.13, 20 — 22 This is, perhaps, not surprising, given the finding that mothers with BPD found it difficult to correctly identify emotions in photographs of both their own and strangers» children.26 Mothers with BPD also found it more difficult to structure their young child's activities, 13 and in later childhood were rated as having poorer levels of family organisation.17 The family environment where mothers had BPD was characterised by high levels of hostility, 17, 29 and low levels of cohesion, 17 according to both parent and child reporting
In the studies of early childhood, most of which focussed on mother — child interactions, maternal BPD was associated with reduced sensitivity and increased intrusivity towards the child.13, 20 — 22 This is, perhaps, not surprising, given the finding that mothers with BPD found it difficult to correctly identify emotions
in photographs of both their own and strangers» children.26 Mothers with BPD also found it more difficult to structure their young child's activities, 13 and in later childhood were rated as having poorer levels of family organisation.17 The family environment where mothers had BPD was characterised by high levels of hostility, 17, 29 and low levels of cohesion, 17 according to both parent and child reporting
in photographs of both their own and
strangers» children.26 Mothers with BPD also found it more difficult to structure their young child's activities, 13 and
in later childhood were rated as having poorer levels of family organisation.17 The family environment where mothers had BPD was characterised by high levels of hostility, 17, 29 and low levels of cohesion, 17 according to both parent and child reporting
in later childhood were rated as having poorer levels of family organisation.17 The family
environment where mothers had BPD was characterised by high levels of hostility, 17, 29 and low levels of cohesion, 17 according to both
parent and child reportings.
This concept has been supported by studies that measure infants» reactions
in the
Strange Situation, which closely resemble their use of the
parent as a secure base and their response to the separation
in the home
environment (Blanchard & Main, 1979).