Aims: This research aims to explore the longitudinal relationship of maternal sensitivity in infancy on the development of adolescent ASB. It explores whether this relationship is mediated by separation from caregiver and/or feared separation (separation anxiety).

Research Question: In more specific terms it aims to answer the following question: does maternal sensitivity in infnacy and actual or feared separation in childhood affect adolescent ASB?

Hypotheses: The research will test four hypotheses: 1. A) Poor maternal sensitivity between mother and infant will increase the number of ASB incidents engaged in by the child in adolescence. It is predicted that positive maternal sensitivity observed in childhood will decrease the number of incidents of ASB in adolescence. B) Negative maternal sensitivity will be associated with a greater number of ASB's across all four domains: aggression, destruction of property, deceitfulness and theft, and serious rule violation (Barker & Maughan, 2009), with a greater number of acts towards others. 2.The number of periods of separation of the child from the caregiver increases so will the likelihood/risk of later adolescent ASB. 3. There will be a greater number of incidents of adolescent ASB recorded for children who exhibit separation anxiety than children who exhibit no separation anxiety. 4. The type of adolescent ASB and the number of adolescent ASB incidents will be mediated by gender.