Two studies, labeled A and B, were conducted (1) to investigate relationships between early infant and mother behaviors over situations and over time, (2) to explore relationships between maternal experiences and behavior, (3) to compare infant-mother pairs with and without interaction problems, and (4) to compare infant-mother pairs in which mothers were "intruding," i.e., showing high frequencies of contact and response behaviors not always adapted to infant signals, with pairs in which mothers did not intrude. In Study A, children were visited at home twice, at 6 weeks and at 4 months of age. In Study B, children between 1 and 5 months of age were visited at home once. Data were collected through direct observation, structured interviews, and a self-report questionnaire. Variables of Study A included the quantity of maternal interactive behavior; maternal sensitivity; infant social behavior; and mother's social support from family and friends, positive life events, negative life events, and pleasure in infant. Variables of Study B were maternal positive social behavior; maternal sensitivity; infant positive social behavior; infant signaling ability; and mother's social support from husband, general life situation, self-confidence, maternal preoccupation, and pleasure in infant. In general, findings suggest that it is possible to achieve early identification of interaction problems in mother-infant pairs via global impressions and verbal reports. (RH)