Attachment, Positive Affect, and Competence in the Peer Group: Two Studies in Construct Validation

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Abstract
Two studies were undertaken to assess the positive affective correlates of secure attachment in infancy and to assess the relation between secure attachment in infancy and competence in the peer group at age 3 1/2 year. In study 1, smiling combined with vocalizing and/or showing toys distinguished securely from anxiously attached infants during free play at age 18 months. Rated quality of affective sharing distinguished securely from anxiously attached infants during free play at 18 mo. and 24 months. Secure attachment involves more than the absence of negative or maladaptive behavior directed toward a caregiver. Study 2 assessed cross-age, cross-situational and cross-behavioral consistency in quality of social adaptation. Quality of infant-mother attachment relationships at age 15 mo. was related to Q-sort assessments of personal and interpersonal competence in the preschool playgroup at age 3 1/2 year. Apparently attachment was an important developmental construct. Age appropriate assessment of developmental social competence constructs may be a useful alternative to the study of homotypic behavioral continuity.