Attachment Theory Applied

“The book is written for students and researchers in various fields (clinical, social, developmental psychology, family studies), as well as clinicians in mental health fields. It is an excellent addition to a curriculum in any of these fields when it comes to the study of attachment theories. The authors, Mikulincer and Shaver, are household names in the study of research and clinical aspects of attachment theories. They are known all over the world for the exemplary work they do….This is a very comprehensive, well structured, and organized book.”

—Doody's Review Service


“Attachment theory was created and has been expanded over the decades through happy collaboration between basic researchers and clinical practitioners. In recent years, attachment-based applications and interventions have grown to include domains as diverse as individual psychotherapy, parent–child support, couple counseling, elementary education, organizational management, and medical care. This book from groundbreaking researchers reviews, organizes, and condenses the sprawling literature on attachment-based interventions; highlights what has been learned and what needs to be studied further; and suggests new domains of application. Thought provoking, inspiring, clearly written, and extremely useful, the volume is likely to be of interest to many different kinds of professionals, as well as students. Highly recommended!”

—Jude Cassidy, PhD, Department of Psychology, University of Maryland, College Park


“This magnificent book demonstrates the powerful effects of secure attachments throughout the life cycle and across essential domains. With academic virtuosity, the authors, leading scholars in the field, summarize a tremendous body of work in accessible and actionable terms. The volume's scientific rigor is matched only by its clarity. This is the definitive book on the application of attachment theory to the most important areas of life. The evidence is clear that crafting situations in which children, teens, and adults feel securely attached to caring figures can create a happier, healthier, and fairer world. This book should be mandatory reading for students in the health and social sciences, practitioners in the caring professions, and organizational leaders at all levels. Read it, use it, talk about it.”

—Isaac Prilleltensky, PhD, Erwin and Barbara Mautner Chair in Community Well-Being, University of Miami


“A wonderful and engaging explanation of how attachment-theoretical principles can be used to improve security and foster interpersonal relationships. This volume does an excellent job of presenting the core theoretical ideas, reviewing how they have been tested in empirical research, and describing how they can be applied in a variety of settings. The innovation in this book is the applied angle: Mikulincer and Shaver give careful consideration to how attachment principles can be used in the workplace, in marital relationships, and elsewhere. A joy to read and an outstanding intellectual contribution.”

—R. Chris Fraley, PhD, Department of Psychology, University of Illinois at Urbana–Champaign