Bindung im Werden

The authors demonstrate how the quality of the relationship between mother and infant can be examined through microanalytic observation of their interaction. The moment-by-moment analysis of video sequences serves as a social microscope, revealing subtle details of the interaction that occur too quickly and are too complex to be perceived directly. Even at four months old, it is possible to predict the child's future attachment capabilities. The numerous still images, altered to protect the identities of the mothers and children, clearly show how sensitively infants respond to the interaction offers from their caregivers. On the accompanying DVD, Beatrice Beebe vividly demonstrates how her New York research group conducts microanalysis of interaction sequences using a sample video.