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Attachments beyond infancy.

The American Psychologist

|April 1, 1989

Summary

This summary is machine-generated.

Attachment theory extends beyond infancy, exploring lifelong affectional bonds. This research examines caregiving, sexual, friendship, and kinship bonds, detailing their behavioral systems and interactions.

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Area of Science:

Psychology
Developmental Psychology
Social Psychology

Background:

Attachment theory traditionally focuses on infant-parent relationships.
The need to understand affectional bonds across the entire lifespan is recognized.

Purpose of the Study:

To extend attachment theory to encompass developmental changes in children's attachments beyond infancy.
To analyze various affectional bonds throughout the life cycle, including parent-child, sexual, friendship, and kinship bonds.
To examine the behavioral systems underlying these bonds and their interactions.

Main Methods:

Theoretical analysis and synthesis of existing research on attachment and affectional bonds.
Examination of behavioral systems associated with different bond types (caregiving, attachment, reproductive).

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Main Results:

Parental caregiving systems and children's attachment systems are compared.
Sexual pair-bonds integrate reproductive, attachment, and caregiving systems.
Friendships and kinship bonds are analyzed for their underlying behavioral systems and endurance.

Conclusions:

Attachment theory can be broadened to explain diverse affectional bonds across the lifespan.
Understanding the interplay of behavioral systems is key to comprehending the formation and maintenance of enduring bonds.
This framework provides a comprehensive view of human social connections from infancy through adulthood.