Jove
Visualize
Contact Us
JoVE
x logofacebook logolinkedin logoyoutube logo
ABOUT JoVE
OverviewLeadershipBlogJoVE Help Center
AUTHORS
Publishing ProcessEditorial BoardScope & PoliciesPeer ReviewFAQSubmit
LIBRARIANS
TestimonialsSubscriptionsAccessResourcesLibrary Advisory BoardFAQ
RESEARCH
JoVE JournalMethods CollectionsJoVE Encyclopedia of ExperimentsArchive
EDUCATION
JoVE CoreJoVE BusinessJoVE Science EducationJoVE Lab ManualFaculty Resource CenterFaculty Site
Terms & Conditions of Use
Privacy Policy
Policies

Related Concept Videos

Theory of Romantic Attachment in Adulthood03:34

Theory of Romantic Attachment in Adulthood

Attachment is a long-standing connection or bond with others. While Attachment Theory was conceived in developmental psychology to describe infant-caregiver bonding, it's been extended into adulthood to include romantic relationships.
Attachment01:20

Attachment

Attachment is vital for infant development, as warm social interactions support growth and well-being. In a classic 1958 study by Harry Harlow, the significance of warmth and comfort in forming attachments was examined. Harlow separated newborn monkeys from their mothers and provided two artificial "mothers": one made of cold wire and the other covered in soft cloth. Despite the wire mother offering food, the infant monkeys preferred the comfort of the cloth mother, demonstrating that physical...
Hazan and Shaver's Attachment Styles01:28

Hazan and Shaver's Attachment Styles

Attachment theory, developed initially to explain infant–caregiver bonds, has been extended to illuminate patterns of intimacy in adult romantic relationships. Psychologists Cindy Hazan and Phillip Shaver proposed that the attachment styles observed in infancy form a framework for how individuals approach emotional closeness and conflict in adulthood. These attachment styles—secure, avoidant, and anxious—are linked to enduring patterns of behavior and emotional regulation in adult relationships.
Attachment Styles01:24

Attachment Styles

Jeffrey Simpson's attachment theory suggests that early caregiver relationships shape lasting patterns of behavior and emotional regulation, known as attachment styles. These patterns are organized along two key dimensions: self-esteem and interpersonal trust. The intersection of these dimensions produces four primary attachment styles that typically persist throughout life and significantly influence how individuals form and maintain relationships.Secure Attachment StyleIndividuals with a...
Relationship with Parents: Attachment01:28

Relationship with Parents: Attachment

Parent-child interactions lay the foundation for how we understand relationships throughout life. These interactions are not uniform across families; instead, they are shaped by a range of environmental, emotional, and behavioral factors unique to each caregiver-child dynamic. Social psychologists study these early relationships to understand how patterns formed in infancy influence social functioning and interpersonal behavior in adulthood.Attachment Theory and Early Relational ModelsJohn...
Psychosexual Theory of Development01:14

Psychosexual Theory of Development

Sigmund Freud's psychosexual theory of development suggests that early childhood experiences significantly shape personality and behavior. Freud proposed that development is discontinuous, occurring in five distinct stages, each defined by a focus on different erogenous zones. He believed that failure to resolve the conflicts specific to each stage successfully could result in fixation, potentially influencing behavior as adults.
The Five Stages of Psychosexual Development
Freud's psychosexual...

You might also read

Related Articles

Articles linked to this work by shared authors, journal, and citation graph.

Sort by
Same author

Higher-dimensional Fermiology in bulk moiré metals.

Nature·2026
Same author

Dual quantum spin Hall insulator by density-tuned correlations in TaIrTe<sub>4</sub>.

Nature·2024
Same author

Biotransformations and cytotoxicity of eleven graphene and inorganic two-dimensional nanomaterials using simulated digestions coupled with a triculture in vitro model of the human gastrointestinal epithelium.

Environmental science. Nano·2023
Same author

Quantum metric nonlinear Hall effect in a topological antiferromagnetic heterostructure.

Science (New York, N.Y.)·2023
Same author

Limits of identification using VUV spectroscopy applied to C8H18 isomers isolated by GC×GC.

Talanta·2023
Same author

Axion optical induction of antiferromagnetic order.

Nature materials·2023
Same journal

Expectations for Families to Care for Older Adults in the United States: Rapid Scoping Review 2011-2023.

Journal of family theory & review·2026
Same journal

Self-injurious behavior in individuals with intellectual and developmental disabilities: An interdisciplinary family systems review.

Journal of family theory & review·2025
Same journal

Consequences of Later-Life Divorce and Widowhood for Adult Well-Being: A Call for the Convalescence Model.

Journal of family theory & review·2025
Same journal

Quality of life in breast cancer survivors: An ambiguous loss perspective.

Journal of family theory & review·2025
Same journal

Sexual and Gender Diversity in Families: Theoretical Advances in the Context of Social Change.

Journal of family theory & review·2025
Same journal

Expanding the concept of parent involvement to special education: Considerations for inclusivity.

Journal of family theory & review·2025
See all related articles

Related Experiment Video

Updated: May 13, 2026

Assessing the Coherence of Parents' Short Narratives Regarding their Child Using the Five-Minute Speech Sample Procedure
07:56

Assessing the Coherence of Parents' Short Narratives Regarding their Child Using the Five-Minute Speech Sample Procedure

Published on: September 19, 2019

Next Steps in Attachment Theory.

David C Bell1

  • 1Department of Sociology and Institute for Research on Social Issues, 425 University Blvd., Indianapolis, IN, 46202-5140.

Journal of Family Theory & Review
|March 19, 2013
PubMed
Summary
This summary is machine-generated.

Attachment theory has greatly advanced our understanding of relationships. Future research should explore attachment

Keywords:
adultattachmentcaregiver–childcaregiving

More Related Videos

The Other End of the Leash: An Experimental Test to Analyze How Owners Interact with Their Pet Dogs
08:59

The Other End of the Leash: An Experimental Test to Analyze How Owners Interact with Their Pet Dogs

Published on: October 13, 2017

Functional Near-Infrared Spectroscopy Hyperscanning Study in Psychological Counseling
06:04

Functional Near-Infrared Spectroscopy Hyperscanning Study in Psychological Counseling

Published on: January 17, 2025

Related Experiment Videos

Last Updated: May 13, 2026

Assessing the Coherence of Parents' Short Narratives Regarding their Child Using the Five-Minute Speech Sample Procedure
07:56

Assessing the Coherence of Parents' Short Narratives Regarding their Child Using the Five-Minute Speech Sample Procedure

Published on: September 19, 2019

The Other End of the Leash: An Experimental Test to Analyze How Owners Interact with Their Pet Dogs
08:59

The Other End of the Leash: An Experimental Test to Analyze How Owners Interact with Their Pet Dogs

Published on: October 13, 2017

Functional Near-Infrared Spectroscopy Hyperscanning Study in Psychological Counseling
06:04

Functional Near-Infrared Spectroscopy Hyperscanning Study in Psychological Counseling

Published on: January 17, 2025

Area of Science:

  • Psychology
  • Developmental Psychology
  • Neuroscience

Background:

  • Attachment theory provides a foundational framework for understanding interpersonal relationships.
  • Its success highlights the need for continued exploration and refinement of core concepts.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To identify new research directions building upon the established success of attachment theory.
  • To emphasize the integration of biological research into attachment studies.
  • To focus on the interconnectedness of attachment and caregiving systems.

Main Methods:

  • Literature review of attachment theory and recent biological research.
  • Conceptual analysis of attachment and caregiving systems.
  • Identification of emerging research avenues.

Main Results:

  • Attachment theory's success necessitates further investigation into its fundamental principles.
  • Recent biological research offers critical insights for advancing attachment studies.
  • The caregiving system is identified as a key area for concentrated future research.

Conclusions:

  • Attachment theory's continued relevance depends on integrating contemporary biological findings.
  • Future research should prioritize a deeper understanding of the biological underpinnings of attachment and caregiving.