This series of papers investigates the effects of early attachment experiences, their evolution as a result of further attachment related experiences, and their developmental impact later in life. Apart from this introduction and the general discussion (Waters, Weinfield & Hamilton, 2000), three empirical papers are presented that outline the results of long-term longitudinal studies from childhood to early adulthood (Weinfield, Sroufe & Egeland, 2000; Hamilton, 2000; Waters, Merrick, Treboux, Crowell & Albersheim, 2000).

All three studies examined individuals who had been assessed as infants in the Strange Situation and as adults using the Adult Attachment Interview and related these results to negative life events as identified by Bowlby.