Attachment

Topic Editor: Marinus van IJzendoorn, PhD, Leiden University, Netherlands

All infants require attention, comfort and a sense of security. Infants who feel threatened will turn to their caregiver for protection and comfort; over time, the caregiver’s response helps mold the relationship into a pattern of interaction.

Bowlby’s attachment theory describes the importance of the early relationship that develops between the infant and the primary caregiver. This affective bond, called attachment, provides the foundation for the child’s later social, emotional and even cognitive development. In addition, attachment relationships continue to influence thoughts, feelings, motives and close relationships throughout life.

Research shows that secure attachment is a protective factor that leads to more optimal developmental outcomes, while children with insecure attachment are more prone to social and maladjustment problems and children with disorganized attachment are at highest risk for psychopathology and poor outcomes.

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• What do we know?
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