for many people today, giving time and attention to children means sacrificing other interests and activities. yet a healthy parent-child bond is not only vital for well-being, but an essential part of what it means to be human. secure children are confident, using a parent as a secure base while they explore the world. bowlbys work showed that the early interactions between infant and caregiver have a profound impact on an infants social, emotional, and intellectual growth. controversial yet powerfully influential to this day, this classic collection of bowlbys lectures offers important guidelines for child rearing based on the crucial role of early relationships.