People who have strong attachments can form and maintain close relationships. Discover what secure attachment is and how to change your attachment style as an adult. The ability to form healthy long-term relationships with friends, family, and romantic partners is referred to as secure attachment. In early childhood, secure attachment develops. Primary caregivers must meet a child's needs in infancy and early childhood in order to help the child feel safe; this sense of security aids in the development of a secure attachment.

Scientists have discovered a'chatty' gene which makes people sociable. Researchers say chemical tags that attach to this gene can change how sociable we are - and the discovery could lead to new treatments for autism and other social disorders. A study of 129 people found those with less of the protein had more difficulty recognising emotional facial expressions - and tended to have more anxiety about their relationships with loved ones. Sociability (stock image) may be determined by modifications to a single gene for oxytocin - the hormone that helps us bond with others. The genetic information that is bound up in our DNA is continually decoded by genetic machinery that uses it to produce proteins.