Introduction

This chapter includes an overview of the history of attachment disorders and their inclusion in the literature on child psychopathology. Mother–infant interactions are described as central in the development of the human subject, and the absence of positive and attuned caretaking is described as having the potential for serious consequences in the child. The text includes a numbered list that prepares the reader to digest central issues that surface throughout the book, on the creating of a mind in the baby, the intersubjective and experiential process that it entails, the genesis of psychopathology, and the development of morality and empathy. All themes are linked to research, ultimately building a case for further investments in mental health.