Other possible alternative explanations may be the toys that the children get to pay with, the environment at home, the number of siblings and the age difference between siblings. Whether the family has pets or not is also another factor because some children are good with animals while others are not. Secure attachment also depends on events that occured in the child's life that he did not understand, like a divorce or a fight/serparation. I was really close to my elder brother and we played all our games together but, i became more independant over the years as i made other friends as well.
I agree with the fact that attachment could be affect by pets. My old neighbors had three children and a dog. Two of the children seemed to be pretty attached to their parents but the older did not. The one that was not attached was allergic to the dog.
I agree completely that the home environment influences later attachment. I know of several friends whose families have gone through divorce early in their lives, and all of those friends have developed a secure attachment to the parent they live with. I find it interesting that a correlation between pets and secure attachment exists. I never really thought about it, but I guess taking care of a pet is a family activity (I've never had any pets, so I'm just guessing here).
I agree that children can develop positive attachment with not only parents, but also with other things such as pets. Regarding that there is a study that tries to cure children with mental disease with dolphins, I think it is valid to say that pets have positive effect on children.
-- Edited by 102intro on Wednesday 8th of April 2009 12:15:30 AM
