Attachment in Adulthood

“Reading Attachment in Adulthood by Mikulincer and Shaver is like stepping into a classroom with two master teachers and researchers....The number and scope of the studies represented in this book is staggering....For students and teachers, Attachment in Adulthood clearly introduces the history and basic concepts of attachment theory as well as a summary and analysis of a large body of adult attachment research. For scholars and researchers, the presentation of all of this information together in one text is invaluable. For clinicians, this compendium of accessible clinically relevant research benefits clinical assessments, decisions about clinical interventions, and contributes to personal awareness and growth.”

—Clinical Social Work Journal (on the first edition)


“The rich information in this book benefits researchers, teachers, students, and clinicians interested in adult attachment….The book is a must have for anybody interested in processes related to adult attachment either academically or in clinical practice, especially when working in the interpersonal realm. The authors are recognized nationally and internationally as ultimate experts in attachment in adulthood….The authors also include the measurements used in the field for evaluating attachment styles, a very useful feature for researchers who now have access to them in one place….This comprehensive, state-of-the-art work is definitely the new go-to reference for anyone interested in learning about or advancing the field of adult attachment….Theoreticians, researchers, and clinicians will find it to be the ultimate resource on adult attachment issues. ****!”

—Doody's Review Service


“The scholarship exhibited in this volume is superb....Now no one will need to search for primary references because they are all contained in this extraordinary volume. This is indeed a labor of love by the two authors, who rightly deserve the encomium of their colleagues and certainly mine....There is no existing theory or model that I know of that comes close to the proliferation of significant research contained in this volume emanating from this topic. It could be said without fear of exaggerating that this volume is the end-all as well as the very beginning on the topic of attachment. I doubt seriously whether any researcher, scholar, student, or professional helper will be able to study, evaluate, or apply attachment without referring to Attachment in Adulthood....It is and will certainly be the substantive basis for any clinical and nonclinical psychologist interested in personality and human relationships.”

—PsycCRITIQUES (on the first edition)


“The proliferation of attachment-defined theoretical constructs and adult attachment research measurements presents a daunting challenge with a vast and often confusing or disconnected body of knowledge for both the novice and advanced clinician or research scientist. Mikulincer and Shaver have risen to this challenge, offering conceptual clarity through their exhaustive and comprehensive review of the theoretical and empirical literature with findings synthetically organized and critically appraised within a coherent theoretical framework....Mikulincer and Shaver are to be praised for their review and condensation of a vast existing evidence-based literature applied to adult attachment processes, the therapeutic process, and the wider social and organizational context.”

—Journal of Nervous and Mental Disease (on the first edition)


“Mikulincer and Shaver provide a wonderfully comprehensive, integrative overview of a rich and broad empirical terrain. The result is a superb second edition that not only gives readers—novices and experts alike—a deeper understanding of attachment 'from the cradle to the grave,' but also suggests where new ideas and research need to head in coming years. The authors highlight several areas of research that have grown considerably since the first edition, such as how attachment theory interfaces with neuroscience, sexuality, caregiving, emotional and behavioral regulation, interpersonal regulation, personal growth, and therapeutic advances.”

—Jeffry A. Simpson, PhD, Distinguished University Teaching Professor and Chair, Department of Psychology, University of Minnesota


“This is just an amazing book. It is beautifully written and provides a rich synthesis of the adult attachment literature. It is extremely comprehensive but at the same time a true pleasure to read. Mikulincer and Shaver are pioneers who both played critical roles in introducing attachment to mainstream psychology and who, in the years since, have made key contributions methodologically and theoretically. In this book, they go well beyond their own work to cover the waterfront. A classic.”

—Mary Dozier, PhD, Department of Psychological and Brain Sciences, University of Delaware


“For more than three decades, attachment theory has been our most intellectually diverse and compelling theory of close relationships. This deeply illuminating volume is a tour de force review of contemporary theory and research. Combining insights from neuroscience, psychopathology, and developmental and social psychology, this beautifully written book offers a cutting-edge update to the first edition. Quite simply, it is indispensable.”

—Harry T. Reis, PhD, Department of Clinical and Social Sciences in Psychology, University of Rochester


“This exciting volume is essential reading for those interested in attachment processes. The authors outline the key principles underlying the classic studies of adult attachment; impressively, they also provide a coherent integration of the thousands of studies that have built on this research. Such key topics as emotion regulation, the neurobiology of attachment, couple dynamics, and group processes attest to the breadth and depth of attachment theory and its implications for adults’ emotional and relational lives.”

—Judith A. Feeney, PhD, School of Psychology, University of Queensland, Australia


“This comprehensive book is exceptionally well written by attachment theory experts. It enhances the reader's understanding of attachment theory and provides a framework for future researchers to use as a guide for scientific pursuits. This is a very useful book for advanced graduate courses focused on adult attachment, such as courses covering personality theories. The appendices with multiple commonly used attachment measures and the chapters on applications of attachment theory in professional practice are extremely helpful for students.”

—Stephen L. Wright, PhD, Professor and Director of Clinical Training, Counseling Psychology Program, University of Northern Colorado