Socially indiscriminate attachment behavior in the Strange Situation: Convergent and discriminant validity in relation to caregiving risk, later behavior problems, and attachment insecurity
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Socially indiscriminate attachment behavior has been repeatedly observed among institutionally reared children. Socially indiscriminate behavior has also been associated with aggression and hyperactivity. However, available data rely heavily on caregiver report of indiscriminate behavior. In addition, few studies have been conducted with samples of home-reared infants exposed to inadequate care. The current study aimed to develop a reliable laboratory measure of socially indiscriminate forms of attachment behavior based on direct observation and to validate the measure against assessments of early care and later behavior problems among home-reared infants. Strange Situation episodes of 75 socially at-risk mother–infant dyads were coded for infant indiscriminate attachment behavior on the newly developed Rating for Infant–Stranger Engagement. After controlling for infant insecure–organized and disorganized behavior in all analyses, extent of infant–stranger engagement at 18 months was significantly related to serious caregiving risk (maltreatment or maternal psychiatric hospitalization), observed quality of disrupted maternal affective communication, and aggressive and hyperactive behavior problems at age 5. Results are discussed in relation to the convergent and discriminant validity of the new measure and to the potential utility of a standardized observational measure of indiscriminate attachment behavior. Further validation is needed in relation to caregiver report measures of indiscriminate behavior.
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Preliminary evidence indicates that other forms of abnormal input may be implicated in indiscriminate behavior.
“Although physical or sexual abuse has not been reported as a contributor to indiscriminate behavior-at least in the absence of neglect-preliminary evidence indicates that other forms of abnormal input may be implicated.”
From Deviations from the expectable environment in early childhood and emerging psychopathology (2015) · cites this paper as Lyons-Ruth et al, 2009
Mothers' disrupted emotional interactions with their infants mediated the relationship between caregiving adversity and indiscriminate behavior.
“Lyons-Ruth et al (2009) found that mothers' disrupted emotional interactions with their infants-defined by behaviors that included affective communication errors (eg, giving contradictory cues, nonresponse or inappropriate response to clear infant cues), role confusion (eg, selfreferential or sexualized behavior), negative-intrusive behavior (eg, verbal negative remarks or physical intrusiveness),”
From Deviations from the expectable environment in early childhood and emerging psychopathology (2015) · cites this paper as Lyons-Ruth et al, 2009
Indiscriminate social behavior at age 18 months predicted ADHD symptoms, including hyperactivity at age 5 years.
“Other forms of deprivation-specific psychopathology may also have a role in the development of ADHD symptomatology, as indiscriminate social behavior at age 18 months predicted ADHD symptoms, including hyperactivity at age 5 years (Lyons-Ruth et al, 2009).”
From Deviations from the expectable environment in early childhood and emerging psychopathology (2015) · cites this paper as Lyons-Ruth et al, 2009
Lyons-Ruth et al (2009) identified continuity in attachment problems as indiscriminate social behavior in early childhood predicted age 5 hostile behavior.
“For example, Lyons-Ruth et al (2009) identified continuity in attachment problems as indiscriminate social behavior in early childhood predicted age 5 hostile behavior.”
From Deviations from the expectable environment in early childhood and emerging psychopathology (2015) · cites this paper as Lyons-Ruth et al, 2009
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- Authors
- Lyons-Ruth, K., Bureau, J.-F., Riley, C. D., & Atlas-Corbett, A. F.
- Affiliations
- Harvard University (US)
- Brandeis University (US)
- Venue
- Development and Psychopathology
- Publisher
- Cambridge University Press (CUP)
- Published
- 2009-04-01
- Volume
- 21
- Issue
- 2
- Pages
- 355-372
- ISSN
- 0954-5794 (ISSN-L)
- 1469-2198
- PMC
- PMC2666941
- OpenAlex
- W2127545083
- Cited by
- 97
- References
- 37
- Citations by year
- 2026: 1 · 2025: 8 · 2024: 4 · 2023: 3 · 2022: 4 · 2021: 4 · 2020: 9 · 2019: 3 · 2018: 11 · 2017: 5 · 2016: 6 · 2015: 3 · 2014: 10 · 2013: 3 · 2012: 8
- FWCI
- 9.14
- Type
- journal article
- Language
- en
- Open access
- green
- www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov
- Locations
- Development and Psychopathology (publishedVersion)
- PubMed (publishedVersion)
- PubMed Central (acceptedVersion)
- Digital Access to Scholarship at Harvard (DASH) (Harvard University) (submittedVersion, cc-by)
- Funders
- National Institute of Mental Health (R01MH062030, R01MH035122)
- Topics
- Social Sciences › Psychology › Social Psychology › Attachment and Relationship Dynamics
- Social Sciences › Psychology › Clinical Psychology › Child and Adolescent Psychosocial and Emotional Development
- Social Sciences › Safety Research › Child Welfare and Adoption
- Keywords
- Strange Situation, child abuse, aggression, hyperactivity, insecure attachment, disorganized attachment, behavioral problems
- MeSH terms
- Adaptation, Psychological, Child Behavior Disorders, Child, Preschool, Female, Humans, Infant, Male, Neuropsychological Tests, Object Attachment, Personality Assessment, Personality Development, Psychometrics, Risk Factors, Social Behavior, Social Environment, Caregivers
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