ABSTRACT
In highly social animals the need for social others to provide safety, support and resources is paramount Humans throughout life continue to show this disposition to a lesser or greater degree (Heard and Lake 1986). Some individuals have highly articulated incentive structures which are targetted on a need for an other. Safety is imputed in a number of channels, including physical comfort, proximity, the provision of information (e.g. facial cues) and reassurance/approval. The quality of the relationship that the infant shares with its mediators will have major effects on the psychobiological maturation of defence and safety systems. The safer the infant feels in relationship with its mediators, the greater the capacity to liberate attention to external (explorative) operations.
