A systems approach toward the functional connections of attachment and fear

Abstract

Proceeding from J. Bowlby's attachment theory and W.A. Mason's arousal theory, a control model is developed that is capable of accounting for basic processes of mammalian social behavior. In particular, the model simulates the transition from a state of attachment to familiar conspecifics and fear of strangers to a stage of detachment from the familiar and exploration of the stranger. Some of the model's predictions were tested in animal experiments and proved to be in satisfactory correspondence with the behavior actually observed.