Mother-child attachment and features of maternal attitude ²⁸⁹²

The article gives a theoretical analysis of studies that reveal the cultural-historical specifics of maternal attitude, interaction and mother-child attachment in early childhood. The author sets forth the main positions of attachment theory, emphasizing the sociocultural context of the development of secure attachment. From this angle the author compares the western and eastern models of socialization, and analyses Russian studies on maternal attitude, emotional interaction between mother and child, and motherchild attachment quality. Analysis of Russian studies that were conducted over the past decade shows that there are certain qualitative characteristics of maternal attitude and behaviour in an interaction with a child that can be considered to be tendencies: contradiction, subject object orientation, emotional ambivalence. These characteristics create conditions for insecure ambivalent attachment. Further investigations can help us to understand whether such tendencies can be regarded as risk factors or as culturally determined features of child socialization.

Column: Parent-Child Relationships