great surge of empirical research into the formation of children's close relationships. As it is presently formulated and used for research purposes, Bowlby's attachment theory stresses the following important tenets: Children between 6 and 30 months are very likely to form emotional attachments to familiar caregivers, especially if the adults are sensitive and responsive to child communications. The emotional attachments of young children are shown behaviourally in their preferences for particular familiar people; their tendency to seek proximity to those people, especially in times of distress; and their ability to use the familiar adults as a secure base from which to explore the environment. The formation of emotional attachments contributes to the foundation of later emotional and personality development, and the type of behaviour toward familiar adults shown by toddlers has some continuity with the social behaviours they will show later in life. Events that interfere with attachment, such as abrupt separation of the toddler from familiar people or the significant inability of carers to be sensitive, responsive or consistent in their interactions, have short-term and possible long-term negative impacts on the child's emotional and cognitive life. A mountain in Kyrgyzstan has been named after Bowlby. See also Selected bibliography Notes External links John Bowlby: Attachment Theory Across Generations 4-minute clip from a documentary film used primarily in higher education John Bowlby – Rediscovering a systems scientist A research report by the International Society for the Systems Sciences authored by Gary Metcalf in 2010 The John Bowlby Centre for Psychotherapy Training 1907 births 1990 deaths Psychologists Attachment psychologists British psychoanalysts Charles Darwin biographers History of mental health in the United Kingdom Child psychiatrists Systems psychologists Adoption, fostering, orphan care and displacement Younger sons of baronets Analysands of Joan Riviere Alumni of the UCL Medical School Alumni of Trinity College, Cambridge Royal Army Medical Corps officers Recipients of the James Spence Medal Commanders of the Order of the British Empire Academics from London 20th-century British psychologists Fellows of the British Academy