Attachment theory is the study of how humans attach and bond to each other, how these attachments can be disrupted by various experiences, and how these disruptions can be healed and remedied.
The most important tenet of attachment theory
is that young children need to develop stable, bonded relationships with caregivers (e.g., parents, teachers, other important adults)
in order
for normal development to occur on all levels. These secure attachments, in turn, allow children to attain higher levels of functioning, including emotional, behavioral, social, cognitive and academic.