Abstract

BESOAIN, Carolina  and  SANTELICES, María Pía. Intergenerational Transmission of Attachment and Reflective Function: A Revision. Ter Psicol [online]. 2009, vol.27, n.1, pp. 113-118. ISSN 0718-4808.  doi: 10.4067/S0718-48082009000100011.

The research about intergenerational transmission of attachment has reported strong associations between the adult and child patterns of attachment. Evidence has shown parent's sensibility as an important precursor of infant's security. Nevertheless the transmission gap still isn't clear. Some authors have suggested the reflective function of the mother as a variable that could explain the gap. This article offers a discussion about this issue, showing some evidence that supports reflective function, and its behavioral aspects in the mother-child early relationship, as an essential dimension in the explanation of the transmission. Finally we discuss the relevance of considering this evidence in the design of preventive interventions.

Keywords : Infant's attachment; adult's attachment; intergenerational transmission of attachment; reflective function; sensibility.