ABSTRACT
This chapter takes a developmental and clinical perspective on intimacy. The authors take a close look at how attachment and caregiving affect the capacity and desire for intimacy in adults, weaving together theory, research and clinical observation. Given the currently burgeoning focus on attachment theory, they briefly review the origins of the attachment bonds and caregiving systems. They then highlight research and provide brief clinical examples that illustrate how differences in attachment affect the development of intimacy and relationships.
