From Attachment to Developmental Outcomes: The Role of Epistemic Trust as a Mediator (NEVe 2.0)

• Applicant: Dr. Alessandro Talia
• Subject Area: Developmental and Educational Psychology
• Term: since 2022
• Project identifier: Deutsche Forschungsgemeinschaft (DFG) - Project number 506141746

A robust body of research shows that secure attachment in infancy predicts a range of positive developmental outcomes, including stronger cognitive and language skills, greater social competence, and fewer emotional and behavioral problems. Building on these findings, our DFG-funded NEVe study was launched to investigate early predictors of secure attachment from a novel perspective. While traditional theories emphasize parental sensitivity, we explored whether secure attachment may be shaped by the caregiver’s trustworthiness as an information source. To test this, the NEVe study recruited a cohort of 196 mothers and their 12- to 15-month-old infants. Preliminary findings support our hypothesis but also raise a broader question: why does infant secure attachment lead to such wide-ranging benefits over time? Our emerging results suggest that epistemic trust—defined as a child’s trust in the relevance of information provided by others—may be a key mechanism. If secure attachment arises from early experiences with trustworthy communicators, securely attached children may develop greater epistemic trust, which in turn may enhance their capacity to learn from caregivers and from others, across domains. However, despite its theoretical importance, the role of epistemic trust in development has not yet been empirically tested. To address this gap, we will conduct a follow-up assessment when children in the NEVe cohort reach four years of age, together with their mothers and fathers. Each child will be assessed both independently and in interaction with each parent. We will measure (1) epistemic trust towards each parent using a laboratory paradigm, (2) conversation with each parent during an autobiographic interview (3) the child’s attachment representations, and (4) children's developmental outcomes (i.e., language, social competence, and emotional well-being). Capitalizing on the assessments of early attachment security already conducted in the context of NEVe, we will test epistemic trust as a potential mediator between early attachment and later developmental outcomes, thereby enhancing our understanding of the early relational mechanisms that support healthy development.

• DFG Programme: Research Grants
• Co-Investigator: Professorin Dr. Svenja Taubner