The emotional warmth approach to professional childcare: Positive psychology and highly vulnerable children in our society

Abstract

In an ideal world, all children would enjoy loving attached relationships with the adults responsible for their care and would lead happy and fulfilling lives exploring, discovering, and learning about the world that they live in and the people they live with. Sadly, not all children are happy: Too many do not receive the care and upbringing they need for a fulfilling life, some live in situations which are frightening, painful, and emotionally damaging, and a number have to grow up in environments where they suffer all of these undeserved and life-limiting conditions.