Final answer:
Attachment theory indicates that children build "working models" of their primary caregivers, which are essential for their social and emotional development and influence relationships throughout life.
Step-by-step explanation:
Attachment theory, developed by John Bowlby, posits that children build "working models" of their primary caregivers. This concept states that the bond formed with a caregiver, often the mother, is crucial for normal social and emotional development. A secure attachment provides a child with a sense of safety to explore their environment and is defined by responsive and mutually enjoyable interactions with the caregiver. These attachments profoundly influence behaviors and relationships throughout one's life, such as connections made with friends, lovers, and even religious figures.
Mary Ainsworth expanded on this by identifying different types of parent-child attachments through the Strange Situation experiment: secure, avoidant, resistant, and disorganized. Secure attachment, where children are reassured by the caregiver's presence and distressed by their absence, is seen as the healthiest. However, there have been criticisms noting that factors like temperament and cultural variance can influence attachment styles.