Facilitators and regulators: maternal orientation as an antecedent of attachment security

Abstract

The contribution of maternal childcare orientation to infants' attachment security was examined in 79 non-risk dyads. Maternal orientation was defined by a distinction between the facilitator, who believes that she should adapt to her baby, as opposed to the regulator, who believes that the baby should adapt to her. Mothers completed the facilitator-regulator questionnaire when the infants were 6 months old; at 12 months, the Strange Situation procedure was administered. The results indicated that secure infants were more likely to have mothers who maintained a facilitator rather than a regulator orientation. It is concluded that a facilitating attitude contributes to a secure infant-mother attachment relationship.