ABSTRACT
Human society is made by people. As infants, we seek attachment with our primary care-givers for our comfort and security. This intimate environment of conversation and exchange is our first contact with the world "out there". We are social beings who think, feel, and do things in relation to others, and the relationships make life and society possible. Through these relationships, we develop a sense of self. This chapter argues that the most rewarded values and behaviours in our society are, indeed, often in conflict with, and undermine, the recognition that attachments matter for life. This is the case in all our social institutions. It looks at the culture, organization, and management of educational institutions to explore this conflict more fully. Attachment Theory has largely focused on our biological capacities to attach to our primary care-givers, and the effects of attachment experiences on brain function and emotional abilities to form future attachments as we grow.
