Investigated stability and change in intrusive and withdrawn interaction behaviours of 23
mothers in Study 1 and 31 mothers in Study 2. Comparisons between mother–infant and
mother–boyfriend interactions revealed that mothers who had been withdrawn with their
infants were quiet, bored-looking, physically distant, and underinvolved with their
boyfriends. Mothers who had been intrusive with their infants were verbally sharp and
controlling with their boyfriends. These findings suggested stability across social contexts.
Comparing maternal responding to instructions to think about themselves (self-focus) or
their infants (infant-focus) revealed that infant-focusing attenuated intrusive behavior
among intrusive mothers and self-focusing attenuated negative affect among withdrawn
mothers. These findings suggested that cognitive focusing ameliorates nonoptimal maternal
behaviours and has differential effects on intrusive and withdrawn mothers.