Which factor MOST impedes researchers' ability to fully understand the association between attachment security during infancy and later functioning?
A) difficulty with conducting longitudinal studies
B) the stable nature of the quality of parent child interactions
C) developmental changes in attachment characteristics
D) changes in family dynamics over the course of the child's development

Question

Which factor MOST impedes researchers' ability to fully understand the association between attachment security during infancy and later functioning?
A) difficulty with conducting longitudinal studies 
B) the stable nature of the quality of parent child interactions 
C) developmental changes in attachment characteristics 
D) changes in family dynamics over the course of the child's development

Quizplus · Accepted Answer

The stable nature of the quality of parent-child interactions poses the greatest challenge to understanding the association between attachment security during infancy and later functioning. This is because it is difficult to disentangle the effects of early attachment experiences from the ongoing effects of the child's interaction with their caregivers. Longitudinal studies, developmental changes in attachment characteristics, and changes in family dynamics are also important factors to consider, but they do not pose as significant a barrier to understanding as the stable nature of parent-child interactions.

Which Factor MOST Impedes Researchers' Ability to Fully Understand the Association