Attachment Theory and Close Relationships [Hardcover]

W. Steven Rholes (Editor), Jeffry A. Simpson (Editor)

Book Description

Publication Date: January 9, 1997 | ISBN-10: 1572301023 | ISBN-13: 978-1572301023 | Edition: 1

In the last decade, few topics in social and personality psychology have attracted more interest than the application of attachment theory to adult relationships. Comprehensive and up-to-date, this book integrates the most important theoretical and empirical advances in this growing area of study and suggests new and promising directions for future investigation. Its balanced coverage of measurement issues, affect regulation, and clinical applications makes this a valuable sourcebook for scholars, students, and clinicians. This volume would be useful to researchers, teachers, and students, as well as clinical psychologists and other mental health practitioners.

Editorial Reviews

Review

"Each chapter is thoroughly documented with relevant research and other literature on the topic. For researchers in the field and upper-division undergraduates and graduate students in social psychology, close relationships, or human social attachment." --E. Palola, Choice

"This volume is a superb resource for those interested in a comprehensive review of the most recent research and theory on attachment processes in adult close relationships. This book presents a view of close relationships that integrates ideas from social, personality, developmental, and clinical psychology, and it will be useful to researchers and practitioners across these areas. The chapters on measurement will be especially valuable for researchers who wish to improve on the ways in which they assess adult attachment. Other chapters strongly link theory and research to clinical practice by demonstrating the importance of attachment processes in relationship conflict and violence, adjustment to divorce, and therapist-client interactions. The study of adult attachment is a relatively new enterprise; this book will help researchers identify critical questions that must be addressed to advance our understanding of when and how attachment processes operate in adult close relationships." --Paula R. Pietromonaco, PhD, Associate Professor, Department of Psychology, University of Massachusetts

"I highly recommend Simpson and Rholes' new book on attachment theory. It is scholarly and integrative--it covers the important issues and the breadth of adult attachment theory. This book is a ¿must' read for adult attachment researchers and clinicians, as well as for other interested scholars." --Carole Pistole, PhD, Department of Educational Psychology, Rutgers University

About the Author

Jeffry A. Simpson, PhD, is Professor of Psychology at Texas A&M University. He received his doctorate in psychology from the University of Minnesota in 1986. His research focuses primarily on social interaction processes in close relationships.
W. Steven Rholes, PhD, Professor of Psychology and Associate Dean of the College of Liberal Arts at Texas A&M University, received his doctorate in psychology from Princeton University in 1978. His research, which includes topics in both developmental and social psychology, addresses issues relating to social cognition, affect, and close relationships.

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Product Details

• Hardcover: 438 pages
• Publisher: Guilford Press; 1 edition (January 9, 1997)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 1572301023
• ISBN-13: 978-1572301023
• Product Dimensions: 9.4 x 6.3 x 1.3 inches
• Shipping Weight: 1.7 pounds (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 5.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (1 customer review)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #917,189 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

22 of 26 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars It's all about Attachment Theory, May 4, 2000

By A Customer

This review is from: Attachment Theory and Close Relationships (Hardcover)

In order to enjoy this book it is important to understand what attachment style is. The book describes Bowlby's (1969/1982) working model framework. Bowlby's (1969/1982) theory concluded that there are tendencies that are part of an attachment system, that functions to regulate the type and amount of contact between infants and their primary attachment figures. According to Bowlby, this system not only covers the infant's biological needs but their emotional needs as well. His theory states that if the proper contact is made between the caregiver and the infant, the infant will have a more successful transition into adulthood. Bowlby hypothesized that infants first use the attachment figure as a sort of proximity maintenance. This suggests that infants enjoy the presence of the caregiver and protest any separations from him or her. Secondly Bowlby thought the caregiver served as a safe haven for the infant, such that the infant would seek the parent for reassurance and safety. Finally, it was Bowlby's conclusion that the child used the caregiver as a secure base from which he or she could explore the environment. If the child did not find the parent as a secure base, he or she may have problems developing and maintaining relationships. Many studies have used this idea and built off of it for adult relationships such as Bartholomew and Ainsworth. Using many current respectable studies. The book is very detailed and easy to follow. I highly reccommend it to anyone doing research in this area.