Zeanah argues that ethological attachment theory, as outlined by John Bowlby, has provided one of the most important frameworks for understanding crucial risk and protective factors in social and emotional development. However, although attachment theory and the notion of attachment disorders have influenced such initiatives, many psychologists, particularly educational psychologists, remain sceptical about the relevance of attachment theories. Research and major contributions towards the theoretical development of attachment theory are outlined, and the potential contribution of attachment theory to educational psychology is explored. Brief Descriptions of Adult Attachment Interview Categories in Relation to Corresponding Infant "Strange Situation" Categories are appended.