Attachment behavior is characterized by specificity in that it is directed toward one or a few specific individuals in a clear order of preference. It implies an enduring bond and is associated with strong feelings. Attachment feeling originates in the mother-child relationship but is extended in later years to other adults, such as a spouse and one's own children. Separation anxiety, a variety of neurotic symptoms, and personality disorders are explained

in terms of attachment theory and the making and breaking od affectional bonds. The main variable responsible for adults' success in making affectional bonds rests on the extent to which their parents have been able to provide them with a secure base and with encouragement to explore from it.