Customer Reviews

Attachment and Loss (Alfred P. Sloan Foundation Series)

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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.

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.

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.

As an MFT graduate student, first hand accounts are important. For the price, add depth to your research writing as the theory intended. Bowlby makes separation axiety, child anger and anger clear. This is a good read even for those who are not in a clinical field. Worth a lot more too me than I paid.

This book is very neat in its specifics about the effects of absence when a mother is not in a child's life and the roles and effects of mother figures as well. Myself dealing with abandonment issues from my mom and my mother figure in my life, this book really assists in identifying the issues caused from the absent parent. Though the book doesn't offer any real advice as to deal with these problems that arise, it identify's the issues and allows you to further your research in progression. The writing style used can get rather complex though, be prepared for that. I agree with everything provided in this book and recommend it to anyone who's interested in either the psychological effects of absence of a parent, or seek to identify it themselves.

I have not received this book, even though its been more than 30 days since I placed the order : (