ABSTRACT
An area that is now recognised to be of great influence upon a person’s long-term functioning is their capacity to form meaningful attachments. Attachment is defined as a ‘lasting psychological connectedness between human beings’ (Bowlby 1969). It fosters a sense of security by maintaining proximity – giving a firm base from which to learn about wider environments. It gives a sense of ‘felt’security and provides the internal representation upon which to model all future relationships. Having a sense of secure attachment allows the child to correctly recognise emotions, show empathy and behave morally. It also makes a significant contribution towards helping the child develop feelings of self-worth and develop a positive view about life. Indeed it is one of the most important building blocks for human development, because it establishes the internal working models of emotional experiences and significant relationships (Bowlby 1980).
