This study was designed to compare the inter-/intra-correlational and the behavioral commonalities approaches to the assessment of attachment behaviors of infants to their mothers. At 7 months, 147 infants were observed (and videotaped) sequentially during a free play period with their mothers present, a separation from their mothers and then a reunion period. At 13 months, 47 of the infants were observed under conditions which elicited attachment behaviors by increasing stress through alternating separation, stranger present and mother present conditions. Observers judged infants as either unattached, securely attached, or insecurely attached. It was hypothesized that the more traditional inter-/intra-correlation of discrete attachment behaviors would be less predictive of these behaviors within and across time than an attachment assessment focused on commonalities in behavioral responses to separation and reunion episodes. Results indicate that intra- and inter-behavioral correlations among discrete attachment behaviors were consistently low both in the number which reached statistical significance and the magnitude of the significant correlations. Multiple regression analysis was successful in predicting 13-month classifications from 7-month reunion and separation behaviors. Touch at 7 months was the strongest predictor of 13-month attachment classification. Increased emphasis on commonalities of responses within situational contexts is recommended. (Author/RH)