4.1 Sensitivity

Sensitive parenting – that is, nurturant, attentive, non-restrictive parental care – and harmonious infant–parent interactions are associated with secure (Type B) infant behaviour in the SST, and this appears to be generally true of infants in a range of cultures (de Wolff and van IJzendoorn, 1997; Posada et al., 1999; Thompson, 1998). Infants who are classified as either insecure-avoidant (Type A) or insecure-ambivalent (Type C) are more likely to have parents who over- or under-stimulate, who fail to make their behaviours contingent on infant behaviour and appear cold or rejecting, and who sometimes act ineptly.