Piecing together the sensitivity construct: ethology and cross-cultural research

Abstract

Although Ainsworth and Bowlby’s perspective on attachment relationships has instinctive underpinnings, they also recognized variability in the ways caregiving is implemented in different ecologies. Ainsworth’s naturalistic observations in two different societies provided early evidence about the development of infant–mother attachment, differences in the quality of attachment relationships, and the role of maternal care in attachment development. Further, her research demonstrated the importance of an ethological approach for research within and across cultures. Employing similar concepts and methods, my collaborators and I have tested and expanded Bowlby’s and Ainsworth’s ideas about the generality of the sensitivity construct and sensitivity-security link. In our research, ethological observations have been key to elaborating the quality of care construct and studying child–mother attachment relationships in different cultures, social contexts, and ages.

Keywords:

• sensitivity
• security
• naturalistic observation

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Erratum

Acknowledgements

Some of the ideas and data presented were supported by grants from the National Science Foundation (BCS-0645530), the Kinley Trust, and the Purdue Research Foundation. Special thanks to the families who generously offered their time, and the graduate and undergraduate students whose help has been crucial. Special thanks to Gloria Alzate, Olga Carbonell, Garene Kaloustian, Ting Lu, Amanda Moreno, Magaly Noblega, Sandra Plata, Melissa Richmond, and Jill Trumbell for their invaluable collaboration.