ABSTRACT
One of the most striking features of human development is the propensity to develop and maintain close relationships. The process of forming attachment bonds can be seen in the very first interaction between a neonate and his or her mother. As the caregiver relationship develops, so do other close relationships. Over time, relationships with caregivers are superseded by relationships with potential partners and later by relationships with one's own offspring. The human species is an especially social one, one whose development as a whole has been shaped by these types of relationships.
