Recent research which examines the effects of mentally handicapped children upon families is reviewed. The studies are grouped into three categories based on the underlying conceptions which appear to guide them. The first category examines which families are most vulnerable to the presumed stress of a mentally handicapped child. The second category emphasises the material and practical problems families experience. The third category stresses the competence of families and describes the resources used to develop coping strategies. Links are drawn between these three categories and to parallel developments in related areas, and implications for future research are discussed.

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Peer bonds were examined in 2 experiments using juvenile rhesus monkeys to determine (a) whether specific attachment bonds are formed between age-mates, (b) whether preferred age-mates can provide a secure base, and (c) whether a previous attachment bond affects the quality of subsequent attachment bonds. In Experiment 1,8 peer-only reared (PO) monkeys demonstrated a specific preference for a predicted favorite peer when given a choice between a familiar and 2 unfamiliar peers. In Experiment 2, PO Ss were placed in a novel setting with either their most preferred peer, a familiar but not preferred peer, or an unfamiliar peer, and their responses were compared with those of a 2nd group of monkeys, reared for their first 6 months of life by their mother. Both mother-reared (MP) and PO monkeys displayed significantly more intimate contact and significantly less distress when with their most preferred peer; nevertheless, even when they were with their most preferred peer, PO Ss exhibited more distress than MP Ss. Findings are discussed with reference to current attachment theory.A child seeks his attachment-figure when he is tired, hungry, ill, or alarmed and also when he is uncertain of that figure's whereabouts; when the attachment-figure is found he wants to remain in We gratefully acknowledge the assistance of

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