Proximity Seeking in the First Year of Life as Related to Attachment.

This paper presents some findings of a detailed analysis of infants' approach behavior in a familiar, naturalistic setting. A total of 26, white, middle-class infant-mother pairs were observed in the home every three weeks during the first year of the child's life. Instances of infant approach to both mother and observer were coded from the narrative accounts recorded by the observer. A median age of 30 weeks was determined for the onset of approach behavior. Discussion focuses on the following areas: approaches to mother only, in context ("following,""greeting," or "spontaneous"), and whether partial or full; types of infant touching behavior of mother and observer; and types of behavior (social, object-oriented, social plus object oriented, or mere proximity) toward mother and observer. Data tables are included. (ED)