18.1: Introduction

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Amanda Taintor & Wendy Ruiz

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Introduction to Attachment and Reciprocal Relationships

Some of the most rewarding experiences in people's lives involve developing and maintaining close relationships. For example, some of the most significant sources of joy include falling in love, starting a family, being reunited with distant loved ones, and sharing experiences with close others. And not surprisingly, some of the most painful experiences in people's lives involve disrupting critical social bonds, such as separation from a spouse, losing a parent, or being abandoned by a loved one.

Why do close relationships play such a profound role in human experience? Attachment theory is one approach to understanding the nature of close relationships. In this section, we review the origins of the theory, the core theoretical principles, and how attachment influences human behavior, thoughts, and feelings across the life course.[1]

[1] Attachment Through the Life Course by R. Chris Fraley is licensed under CC: BY-NC-SA