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This is a clear restatement of Bowlby's views about the origins and vicissitudes of human attachment behavior. In the first section he defines his theory, differentiating it from the classical psychoanalytic view of drive reduction
as the motivating force of human bond formation. Citing animal behavior studies as well as human, he postulates that bonds to a mothering figure develop independent of the drive for nourishment. Attachment behavior is "a class of behavior distinct from feeding and sexual behavior and of at least an equal significance in human life." The complementary caregiving role of parental figures allows the development of healthy attachment bonds. The parents must provide a secure base, encourage exploration from this base, and "intervene judiciously" when protection is needed. Application of this theory to psychopathology and psychotherapy is discussed.