A narrative on the neurobiological roots of attachment-system functioning

Abstract Attachment theory is one of the most comprehensive frameworks in social and developmental psychology. It describes how selective, enduring emotional bonds between infants and their caregivers are formed and maintained throughout life. These attachment bonds exhibit distinct characteristics...

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Main Authors: Amir Izaki, Willem J. M. I. Verbeke, Pascal Vrticka, Tsachi Ein-Dor
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: Nature Portfolio 2024-10-01
Series:Communications Psychology
Online Access:https://doi.org/10.1038/s44271-024-00147-9
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author Amir Izaki
Willem J. M. I. Verbeke
Pascal Vrticka
Tsachi Ein-Dor
author_facet Amir Izaki
Willem J. M. I. Verbeke
Pascal Vrticka
Tsachi Ein-Dor
author_sort Amir Izaki
collection DOAJ
description Abstract Attachment theory is one of the most comprehensive frameworks in social and developmental psychology. It describes how selective, enduring emotional bonds between infants and their caregivers are formed and maintained throughout life. These attachment bonds exhibit distinct characteristics that are intimately tied to fundamental aspects of mammalian life, including pregnancy, birth, lactation, and infant brain development. However, there is a lack of a cohesive biological narrative that explains the psychological forces shaping attachment behavior and the emergence and consolidation of attachment patterns at a neurobiological level. Here, we propose a theoretical narrative focusing on organized attachment patterns that systematically link the two primary purposes of the attachment behavioral system: the provision of tangible protection or support and the corresponding subjective feeling of safety or security. We aim for this detailed delineation of neurobiological circuits to foster more comprehensive and interdisciplinary future research.
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spelling doaj-art-a3885edc1ef44bb08f12564ac6a3e7102025-08-20T02:17:50ZengNature PortfolioCommunications Psychology2731-91212024-10-012111010.1038/s44271-024-00147-9A narrative on the neurobiological roots of attachment-system functioningAmir Izaki0Willem J. M. I. Verbeke1Pascal Vrticka2Tsachi Ein-Dor3Reichman UniversityErasmus UniversityUniversity of EssexReichman UniversityAbstract Attachment theory is one of the most comprehensive frameworks in social and developmental psychology. It describes how selective, enduring emotional bonds between infants and their caregivers are formed and maintained throughout life. These attachment bonds exhibit distinct characteristics that are intimately tied to fundamental aspects of mammalian life, including pregnancy, birth, lactation, and infant brain development. However, there is a lack of a cohesive biological narrative that explains the psychological forces shaping attachment behavior and the emergence and consolidation of attachment patterns at a neurobiological level. Here, we propose a theoretical narrative focusing on organized attachment patterns that systematically link the two primary purposes of the attachment behavioral system: the provision of tangible protection or support and the corresponding subjective feeling of safety or security. We aim for this detailed delineation of neurobiological circuits to foster more comprehensive and interdisciplinary future research.https://doi.org/10.1038/s44271-024-00147-9
spellingShingle Amir Izaki
Willem J. M. I. Verbeke
Pascal Vrticka
Tsachi Ein-Dor
A narrative on the neurobiological roots of attachment-system functioning
Communications Psychology
title A narrative on the neurobiological roots of attachment-system functioning
title_full A narrative on the neurobiological roots of attachment-system functioning
title_fullStr A narrative on the neurobiological roots of attachment-system functioning
title_full_unstemmed A narrative on the neurobiological roots of attachment-system functioning
title_short A narrative on the neurobiological roots of attachment-system functioning
title_sort narrative on the neurobiological roots of attachment system functioning
url https://doi.org/10.1038/s44271-024-00147-9
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