Attachments and other affectional bonds across the life cycle

The great strength of attachment theory in guiding research is that it focuses on a basic system of behavior – the attachment system – that is biologically rooted and thus species-characteristic. This implies a search for basic processes of functioning universal in human nature, despite differences attributable to genetic constitution, cultural influences, and individual experience. Substantial progress has been made toward understanding what are the basic developmental processes relevant to attachment in infancy; now research is needed to find out what they are throughout later phases of development. That is the first major concern of this chapter.