Attachment Theory and the Psychoanalytic Process

Attachment theory, the brainchild of child psychiatrist and psychoanalyst John Bowlby, has begun to have a worldwide impact among clinicians within the last ten years. This interest marks a departure from the early fate of attachment theory. At first shunned by the psychoanalytic community, Bowlby's brilliant and groundbreaking effort to recast basic psychoanalytic concepts within system theories and a new, ethologically based model of the importance of affectional ties across the life span was taken up by a group of gifted developmental researchers. Empirical research not only tested and confirmed many basic propositions of attachment theory, but also extended Attachment theory in unexpected and creative ways. Bowlby was surprised and gratified by this turn of events, but also disappointed that his intended clinical audience has not taken the theory and run with it. This edited book is in part a testament to the fact that clinicians are beginning to do just that; they are taking Attachment theory and research creatively to examine clinical issues. In doing so, new vistas and hypothesis are being put forward showing that Attachment theory is alive and well. In this volume the editors gathered a distinguished group of clinician-scholars from around the world (Argentina, Italy, Mexico, UK, USA and Spain) to examine and extend Bowlby's legacy.The book should be of interest to clinicians regardless of their orientation. Attachment theory cuts across boundaries of clinical modalities-individual, group or family therapy-and orientations-psychoanalytic, cognitive or behavioural. The book should also be of interest to researchers who may find the heuristic value of clinical insights a valuable addition to the legacy of Attachment theory.

Table of Contents:
Contributors. Foreword Philip Mollon. Acknowledgements. Chapter 1 Introduction: reclaiming Bowlby's contribution to psychoanalysis, Mario Marrone and Mauricio Cortina. Part 1 Clinical Dimensions. Chapter 2 Attachment theory, transference and the psychoanalytic process, Mauricio Cortina and Mario Marrone. Chapter 3 Empathy and sensitive responsiveness, Malcolm Pines and Mario Marrone. Chapter 4 Implications of attachment theory for developing a therapeutic alliance and insight in psychoanalytic psychotherapy, Tirril Harris. Chapter 5 The significance of the exploration of the patient's attachment history for psychoanlytic psychotherapy, Sandra Weiner. Chapter 6 Clinical uses of the Adult Attachment Interview, Howard Steele and Miriam Steele. Chapter 7 Patient-Therapist attachment: impact on the therapeutic process and outcome, Diana Diamond, John F Clarkin K Chase Stovall-McClough, Kenneth N Levy, Pamela A Foelsch, Hilary Levine and Frank E Yeomans. Chapter 8 Integrating attachment and social character approaches to clinical training: case studiess from a Mexican Nahuatl village, Sonia Gojman de Millan and Salvador Millan. Chapter 9 Applications of attachment theory to the treatment of latency age children, June W Sroufe. Chapter 10 Revisiting Freud in the light of attachment theory: Little Han's father - oedipal rival or attachment figure? Luis J Juri. Chapter 11 Attachment and bereavement, Luis J Juri and Mario Marrone. Part 2 Theoretical Considerations. Chapter 12 Defensive process, emotions and internal working models: a perspective from attachment theory and contemporary models of the mind, Mauricio Cortina. Chapter 13 Attachment theory as a bridge between cognitive science and psychdynamic theory, Jean Knox. Chapter 14 The psychoanalytic process in the light of attachment theory, Rafael Cristobal. Chapter 15 Disorganized attachment, motivational systems and metacognitive monitoring in the treatment of a patient with boderline syndrome, Giovanni Liotti and Bruno Intreccialagli. Chapter 16 Attachment and intimacy in adult relationships, Hugo Bleichmar. Chapter Part 3 Attachment, Sexuality and the Body. Chapter 17 Attachment, trauma and the body, Nicola Diamond. Chapter 18 Sexual disorder and attachment: a developmental systems approach, Mary Gales Shane, Morton Shane and Estelle Shane. Chapter 19 Sexuality and attachment: a passionate relationship or a marriage of convenience? Doris K Silverman. Appendix The infant and adult attachment categories, June W Sroufe. Index.

Review :
"A genuine opportunity to catch up with major developments…may offer a useful resource for some time to come." (British Journal of Psychotherapy, 2008)