ABSTRACT

Attachment theory provides a powerful perspective for investigating the nature of the relationship between caregiving experiences and developmental outcomes (Ainsworth, Blehar, Waters, & Wall, 1978; Crittenden, 1992; George & Solomon, 1999; Main, Kaplan, & Cassidy, 1985; Sroufe, 1983; Sroufe & Fleeson, 1988). John Bowlby consistently articulated the potential of attachment theory for contributing to an understanding of the pathways through which early experiences of caregiving could eventuate in mental health or in psychopathology. Moreover, Bowlby believed that attachment theory could provide a framework for implementing therapeutic interventions (Bowlby, 1977a, 1977b, 1988).