Following Main and Hesse's hypothesis, several investigators have
affirmed that frightened/frightening (FR) as well as particular
atypical maternal behaviors are associated with infant disorganized and
adult unresolved attachment. Here, for the first time, FR behavior was
observed in (a) middle-class father–infant (n = 25) and
independent mother–infant dyads (n = 50) and (b) a brief
laboratory play session. In addition, relations between disorganization,
unresolved attachment, and the six FR system subscales were explored.
Paternal and maternal overall FR behavior was related to infant
disorganization (n = 75, φ = .61, p < .001), and
for a subsample where Adult Attachment Interviews were available
(n = 32), to unresolved adult attachment (φ = .59,
p < .001). At the subscale level, disorganized-FR behaviors
were related to infant disorganization, but only for mother–infant
dyads. Across the whole sample, both dissociative-FR and threatening-FR
subscales were associated with infant disorganization. The dissociative-FR
subscale emerged as the central predictor of infant disorganization and
was the only subscale significantly related to unresolved attachment. The
appearance of FR behavior in this 18-min play procedure suggests that FR
probably occurs more frequently than previously suspected. The possible
role of dissociative processes in unresolved adult attachment,
disorganized attachment, and FR parental behavior is discussed.This article is based on a doctoral dissertation
completed by the first author (K.A.) in January 2000, in the Department of
Psychology at the University of California at Berkeley, supervised by
Professor Mary Main, principle investigator of the Berkeley Social
Development Project. The Berkeley Social Development Project is an ongoing
longitudinal study supported by the William T. Grant Foundation; by a
Bio-Medical Support Grant from HEW; by the Institute for Human
Development, University of California at Berkeley; by The Harris
Foundation; and by the Amini Foundation for the Study of Affects. Archived
Adult Attachment Interview data were coded by Anitra DeMoss. The first
author acknowledges Through the Looking Glass for their support and
encouragement while this manuscript was being completed. We also
especially thank Mary Main for providing valuable comments on earlier
drafts of this article.