IS ATTACHMENT THEORY READY TO CONTRIBUTE TO OUR UNDERSTANDING OF DISRUPTIVE BEHAVIOR PROBLEMS

Attachment theory and research have traditionally been subspecialties in infant social development. Recent work has extended the relevance o f attachment theory and assessments well into childhood and has establ ished firm ties to work with adults. Many of the same variables associ ated with the development of disruptive behavior problems also influen ce the development of attachment. In addition, recent data point to co nsistent relations between attachment status and disruptive behavior p roblems. This paper reviews attachment theory, summarizes mechanisms t hrough which attachment might be related to disruptive behavior proble ms, and discusses the relevance of attachment theory to prevention and therapy. We emphasize the diversity of possible relations between att achment and disruptive behavior problems and the fact that incorporati ng attachment theory into research on disruptive behavior problems doe s not mean interpreting every disruptive behavior as attachment relate d or every attachment-related disruption as serving the same function.