Attachment is the deep and enduring connection established between a child and caregiver in the first several years of life. Beyond the basic function of secure attachment—providing safety and protection for the vulnerable young through closeness to a caregiver—there are several other important functions for children:
- To learn basic trust and reciprocity that serve as a template for all future emotional relationships;
- To explore the environment with feelings of safety and security (“secure base”), which leads to healthy cognitive and social development;
- To develop the ability to self-regulate, which results in effective management of impulses and emotions;
- To create a foundation for the formation of an identity that includes a sense of competency, self-worth, and a balance between dependence and autonomy;
- To establish a prosocial moral framework that involves empathy, compassion, and conscience;
- To generate a core belief system that comprises cognitive appraisals of self, caregivers, others, and life in general; and
- To provide a defense against stress and trauma, which incorporates resourcefulness and resilience (from Attachment,Trauma &Healing, second edition, T. Levy & M.Orlans, Jessica Kingsley Publishers, 2014).
Dr . Terry Levy and Mr. Michael Orlans co-wrote this article. They are the co-authors of two books and co-lead seminars on attachment and trauma. They welcome hearing from you.
