Editing Attachment theory (section)

=== History ===
The origins of attachment theory within criminology can be found in the work of [[August Aichhorn]]. In applying psychoanalysis to [[pedagogy]], he argued that abnormal child relationships are the underlying problem causing delinquency.<ref>{{cite book |title=Wayward Youth |url=https://archive.org/details/waywardyouth0000aich_y0c9 |last=Aichhorn |first=August |publisher=The Viking Press |year=1935 |location=the University of Michigan}}</ref>

The intersection of crime and attachment theory was further researched by John Bowlby. In his first published work, ''Forty-four Juvenile Thieves'', he studied a sample of 88 children (44 juvenile thieves and 44 non-delinquent controls) and determined that child-mother separation caused delinquent character formation, particularly in the development of an "affectionless character" often seen in the persistent offender. 17 of the juvenile thieves had been separated from their mothers for longer than six months during their first five years, and only 2 children from the control group had such a separation. He also found that 14 of the thieves were "affectionless characters" distinguishing them from others by their lack of affection, no emotional ties, no real friendships, and having "no roots in their relationships".<ref name=":2">{{cite journal |last=Bowlby |first=John |date=Jan 1, 1944 |title=Forty-four Juvenile Thieves: their Characters and Home-Life |journal=International Journal of Psycho-Analysis |volume=25}}</ref>