Attachments begin at birth and continue throughout life. Intimate attachments to other human beings are the hub around which a person's life revolves, when he or she is an infant, toddler, adolescent, and into old age. The securely attached child develops the belief that he or she can influence the conditions around them. Bonding is the loving commitment by a parent to meet and fulfill an infant's needs. Attachment is the special relationship of trust and love of an infant towards a parent who meets his or her needs. Attachment behaviors enable the mother and father make unusual sacrifices necessary for the care of their infant, day after day and night after night.

This book reviews the issues of major importance in the current study of bonding and attachment. Adopted children and children who have spent some of their childhood in foster care account for a disproportionate number of unattached children. The insecurities and many problems that adults experience are often related to a lack of bonding and attachment in early childhood.

The format was planned so that it can be used as a teaching tool. The purpose of the book is to gain knowledge and understanding in this field of study for the benefit of those who are born and grow up unattached to another human being. Children who grow up without the ability to give or receive affection, those who cannot tolerate other people's limits on them, and a host of other problems, may become social outcasts and never reach their potential. Can anything be done for them? The answer is a resounding yes. It is never too late to learn to connect with others in a healthy way that can be helpful to all involved. It is never too late, but it is not easy.

Attachment is a lifetime process. It is necessary for the child's well being and has a lifetime impact.