Attachment and Loss (Alfred P. Sloan Foundation Series) [Hardcover]

John Bowlby (Author)

Book Description

Series: Alfred P. Sloan Foundation Series | Publication Date: July 8, 1980

The experience of separation and the ensuing susceptibility to anxiety, anger, and fear constitute the flip side of the attachment phenomenon. In an authoritative new foreword to Bowlby’s classic study, Stephen Mitchell (who gives resonant voice to the relational perspective in psychoanalysis) bridges the distance between attachment theory and the psychoanalytic tradition.

--This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title.

Editorial Reviews

Review

"It is difficult to exaggerate the importance of Dr. Bowlby's work." (Sunday Times (London)) -- Sunday Times, London --This text refers to the Paperback edition.

About the Author

John Bowlby is honorary staff member of the Tavistock Clinic in London.

--This text refers to the Paperback edition.

Product Details

• Hardcover: 472 pages
• Publisher: Basic Books; First Edition edition (July 8, 1980)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0465042376
• ISBN-13: 978-0465042371
• Product Dimensions: 9.3 x 5.7 x 1.8 inches
• Shipping Weight: 2.1 pounds
• Average Customer Review: 4.3 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (6 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #1,119,413 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

61 of 68 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Classic study of an important topic, August 20, 2000

By 

Eileen Galen (USA) - See all my reviews
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This review is from: Separation: Anxiety And Anger (Basic Books Classics) (Paperback)

This book was first published in 1973, and the work of it was done mostly in the 1960's by Briton Dr. Bowlby. It's "Volume Two" of a trilogy, but does not have to read along with the companion volumes. Like his other two works on childhood, this interesting work, again, introduces his ideas and promotes a compassionate understanding of the lives of children.

Separation anxiety, anxious attachment, and other phenomena of attachment are well-known and accepted reactions now - we expect it from our pets as well as our babies - but at one time, were less well understood (and anticipated.) This work, lucidly and compassionately, lays it out for the reader. The book is divided into three sections, and in a well-organized and deeply accessible fashion, Bowlby proceeds. The Sections are "Security, Anxiety, and Distress," "An Ethological Approach to Human Fear," and finally, "Individual Differences in Susceptibility to Fear: Anxious Attachment".

Bowlby uses his own prior clinical work and that of others to support his assertions. The father's role, the role of anger and fear, and many other factors are discussed. This is a scholarly study, and has much to tell readers. It's thoroughly readable and interesting, not only for its subject but because Bowlby can tell a story and hold the reader's interest through-out. Not a "how-to" or a quick fix - rather, a deeply sensible and basic study. Highly recommended for parents, teachers, clinicians.

7 of 7 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Seminal work on attachment and loss, Technical, but readable., July 3, 2005

By 

Dan Livney - See all my reviews
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This review is from: Separation: Anxiety And Anger (Basic Books Classics) (Paperback)

Bowlby is a clear and cogent thinker who takes time to look at an important issue in tremendous detail. Taking into account much previous research and theorizing, he accepts and refutes a wide body of work in making his point. You may not agree with all of his conclusions (I may not agree with all of his conclusions), but this is not a book to be discounted lightly. Should be required reading for anyone interested in the fields of psychoanalysis and child development.

5 of 6 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars My personal choice, April 24, 2009

By 

F. Sara (HK) - See all my reviews
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This review is from: Separation: Anxiety And Anger (Basic Books Classics) (Paperback)

Bowlby is one of my favorite psychologists because his theory reflects real life tightly, very applicable. If you are a psychology major or interest in intricated mother-child relationship and its influence on later life, don't miss it.