As the body of research on attachment grows, attachment theory is being increasingly utilized by psychologists as a useful way of conceptualizing the problem behaviors that many foster children present. In addition, this paper explores Bowlby’s (1988) model of developmental pathways as a means to understand both normal and abnormal processes and patterns of adaptation and maladaptation. The empirical bases connecting the theoretical principles of attachment with child maltreatment are discussed, and a theoretical rationale for assessment and intervention with attachment-disordered foster children with an emphasis on modifying the child’s negative working model of attachment relationships is presented.