The 4-1-1 on Psychology's Attachment Theory

Attachment theory is a beautiful and simple way to understand how people relate to others and themselves. It can be helpful to know your individual attachment style, especially if you are a parent. One of the things I like about attachment theory, is that it acknowledges that humans are very social, with high needs for connection and cooperation. This has broad implications, not just for individuals, but for families, communities, and larger social policies (education, healthcare, housing, etc.).

We carry templates of our caregivers and families inside ourselves, like these family matryoshka dolls.

According to the NY Times article, "Yes, It's Your Parents' Fault,"

"We live in a culture that celebrates individualism and self-reliance, and yet we humans are an exquisitely social species, thriving in good company and suffering in isolation. More than anything else, our intimate relationships, or lack thereof, shape and define our lives.

While there have been many schools of thought to help us understand what strains and maintains human bonds, from Freudian to Gestalt, one of the most rigorously studied may be the least known to the public.

It’s called attachment theory, and there’s growing consensus about its capacity to explain and improve how we function in relationships."

Click here to read the full article.