ATTACHMENT, MATING, AND PARENTING - AN EVOLUTIONARY INTERPRETATION

A modern evolutionary perspective emphasizing life history theory and behavioral ecology is brought to bear on the three core patterns of at tachment that are identified in studies of infants and young children in the Strange Situation and adults using the Adult Attachment Intervi ew. Mating and parenting correlates of secure/autonomous, avoidant/dis missing, and resistant/preoccupied attachment patterns are reviewed, a nd the argument is advanced that security evolved to promote mutually beneficial interpersonal relations and high investment parenting; that avoidant/ dismissing attachment evolved to promote opportunistic inte rpersonal relations and low-investment parenting; and that resistant/p reoccupied attachment evolved to foster ''helper-at-the-nest'' behavio r and indirect reproduction.