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.
Subscribe To Our Newsletter
Stay in touch with Dr. Levy as he travels the world sharing helpful hints for healthy relationships. Newsletters will hit your email inbox once a month. We won’t share your email with anyone for any reason.