Understanding Attachment Theory

If any baby fails to develop the capacity for attachment at the critical stage then there is no foundation from which to transfer or attach directly to others later in life and this can be an issue which stays with that person for the rest of their life.

John Bowlby (1907 – 1990) passionately believed that human behavioural problems and poor mental health could be directly linked to early babyhood similar to Freud.

Bowlby suggested that through his evolutionary theory of attachments all children come into the world genetically pre-programmed biologically to actually form attachments with others ‘naturally’ because this will help in survival which contributes to the development of the human race.