Attachment theory

Attachment theory is a psychological, evolutionary, and ethological theory concerning relationships between humans. The most important tenet of attachment theory is that an infant needs to develop a relationship with at least one primary caregiver for the child's successful social and emotional development, and in particular for learning how to effectively regulate their feelings.

Pronunciation

əˈtaCHmənt THēərē

Etymology

The term "attachment theory" was coined by British psychiatrist and psychoanalyst John Bowlby in the mid-20th century. The word "attachment" comes from the Latin "attachere", meaning "to fasten or adhere", while "theory" comes from the Greek "theoria", meaning "contemplation or speculation".

Related Terms

• Secure attachment
• Insecure attachment
• Disorganized attachment
• Attachment disorder
• Attachment in adults
• Attachment in children
• Attachment measures
• Attachment-based therapy (children)
• Attachment-based therapy (adults)

See Also

• Developmental psychology
• Human bonding
• Interpersonal relationship
• Object relations theory
• Psychoanalysis
• Social psychology

References

• Bowlby, J. (1969). Attachment and loss v. 3 (Vol. 1). Random House.
• Ainsworth, M. D. S., & Bell, S. M. (1970). Attachment, exploration, and separation: Illustrated by the behavior of one-year-olds in a strange situation. Child development, 41(1), 49-67.
• Main, M., & Solomon, J. (1990). Procedures for identifying infants as disorganized/disoriented during the Ainsworth Strange Situation. Attachment in the preschool years: Theory, research, and intervention, 1, 121-160.

External links

• Medical encyclopedia article on Attachment theory
• Wikipedia's article - Attachment theory

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