A program of research on the dimensions and antecedents of emotional dependence.

A research program is outlined for investigating the laws characterizing emotional dependence in childhood. In particular, emphasis is placed upon the identification of the dimensions operating in behaviors which appear to be employed to gain certain social responses from other persons (like those apparently employed for attention, approval, affection, reassurance, and the like); and the conditions under which they develop. The program proceeds both from simple learning and performance concepts and from such theories as are available for tracing the early development of emotional dependence. Initially, a two-pronged research program is proposed: the dimensional program would catalogue instrumental behaviors, reinforcers and object persons which characterize the dependence process, and such interrelationships as may be discovered among them, stated as a function of age; and the developmental program would employ the catalogue to focus upon the etiologies of different emotional dependence patterns. In particular, these researches propose to focus systematically upon selected aspects of the human caretaking situation. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]