What term describes a long-lasting emotional bond between an infant and their caregiver?

The term that describes a long-lasting emotional bond between an infant and their caregiver is attachment. Attachment theory, developed by John Bowlby and further explored by researchers like Mary Ainsworth, emphasizes the importance of this bond in early development. It suggests that the security of the attachment relationship influences a child's emotional, social, and cognitive development throughout their life.

This emotional bond is characterized by the caregiver's ability to respond to the infant's needs consistently and sensitively, fostering a sense of safety and security. The nature of this attachment can be classified into different styles—secure, anxious, and avoidant—each influencing the child's future relationships and emotional health.

While bonding, affection, and connection are related concepts that describe various feelings of warmth and closeness, they do not specifically encapsulate the enduring emotional and psychological link established during the early development stages as well as attachment does.