Kagan et al. (1978) defined attachment as:
             'An intense emotional relationship that is specific to two people, that endures over time, and in which prolonged separation from the partner is accompanied by stress and sorrow'.
             The first attachment we form is widely accepted by psychologists as being crucial for healthy development since it acts as a prototype for all future relationships, and though affectionate relationships may be established with any consistent caregiver, the most intense relationship occurs between child and mother/ or other main caregiver in the early stages of development.
             Socialisation is therefore essential to forming this type of relationship, bonding. But this is a two-way thing. Both child and mother have to be able to relate to each other, both must have the necessary skills needed. When either lacks the skills then attachment will be weaker or not occur at all.
             Even a newborn infant will interact with its mother, it will cry, smile, have eye contact and root therefore encouraging response from the mother.
             The child develops its attachment gradually. From 0-3 months is the pre-attachment phase, showing the infants preference for humans over other objects. Preferential looking and social smiling shows this. The indiscriminate attachment phase occurs from 3-7 months, distinguishing people and allowing strangers to handle it. From 7-9 months we see the discriminate attachment phase, where the infant develops specific attachments to certain people and shows distress on separation from them. Lastly we have the multiple attachment phase from 9 months onwards. Increasing independence allows the formation of other bonds despite the stronger prior attachments.
             There are four main theories on attachment, psychoanalytical, learning theory, ethological and cognitive. Many psychologists have explored all these theories.
             Freud, who believed that infants attached to people who satisfied their oral ...