Professor Gunnar will cover research exploring the regulation of stress physiology by relationship partners during human development. Beginning in infancy with the formation of attachment relationships the presence and availability of the attachment figure provides a powerful buffer of the mammalian stress system. This is observed in rodents, non-human primates and children. This lecture will consider how relationships buffer stress (or not) during childhood and the role that puberty may play in the shift in stress buffering from parental attachment figures to peers and later romantic relationship partners. Professor Gunnar will also consider how early neglect and deprivation may alter the course of the social regulation of stress physiology and the role this may play in the vulnerability and resilience of individuals to stressful life events.