Which theory emphasizes the importance of early relationships in personality development, including the idea of a secure base?

• A. Alfred Adler
• B. Rudolf Dreikurs
• C. B.F. Skinner
• D. John Bowlby

Answer: (D)

Attachment theory shows that early relationships with caregivers shape personality and emotion regulation. The idea of a secure base means a caregiver who is reliably responsive provides safety that allows a child to explore the world, while internal working models formed in these early interactions guide expectations about self and others later in life. This framework helps explain why securely attached individuals tend to be more confident, capable in relationships, and resilient, whereas insecure attachments can relate to relational and emotional difficulties down the line. Among the figures listed, only John Bowlby developed this emphasis on early bonds and the secure base; the others are associated with different ideas—Adler and Dreikurs with striving and social motivation, Skinner with learning through reinforcement and observable behavior.