PL
The purpose of the article is to present the main elements of John Bowlby’s attachment theory: the nature of the attachment relationship and its implications for cognitive, emotional and social development of human beings, especially in early childhood as well as the process of intergenerational transmission of poor parental bonding and ways of enhancing early attachment. Attachment theory posits that the early infant – caregiver relationship forms a mental representation that is a blueprint for future relationships, including later parenting. This phenomena is the source of parenting behaviours and styles of attachment transmitted across the generations. This is also the beginning of “the circle of psychological poverty”. One of the proposals helpful in breaking this circle of the negative model of the parent – child relationship may be The Circle of Security COS Project design to alter the developmental pathway of at-risk parents and their young children.