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Soft Object and Pacifier Attachments in Young Children: The Role of Security of Attachment to the Mother *
Author(s) -
Lehman Elyse Brauch,
Denham Susanne A.,
Moser Margo H.,
Reeves Sally L.
Publication year - 1992
Publication title -
journal of child psychology and psychiatry
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 3.652
H-Index - 211
eISSN - 1469-7610
pISSN - 0021-9630
DOI - 10.1111/j.1469-7610.1992.tb00939.x
Subject(s) - psychology , pacifier , developmental psychology , object (grammar) , strange situation , test (biology) , attachment theory , pediatrics , medicine , linguistics , philosophy , breastfeeding , paleontology , biology
A longitudinal study was conducted to evaluate the hypothesis that a healthy mother‐infant relationship is a prerequisite for the development of a child's attachment to a blanket or other soft object. Security of attachment to mother was measured 31 12 months with the Strange Situation Test and at 30 months with the Attachment Q‐Sort. Most of the children with soft object attachments were rated as securely attached to their mother at both ages. Children with pacifier attachments, on the other hand, were less often rated as securely attached and were more likely to show changes in security classification between 12 and 30 months. The results arc discussed in terms of necessary, but not sufficient. conditions for the development of attachments to inanimate objects.