ABSTRACT
Attachment theory had its beginnings in the work of John Bowlby and Mary Ainsworth. Over more than six decades, it has generated thousands of studies by developmental researchers. Nevertheless, the roots of attachment theory are clinical, and now its clinical reach and relevance are being challenged. Following Ainsworth and working concurrently, Mary Main and Patricia Crittenden developed two expansions of attachment theory: the ABC+D approach (Main) and the Dynamic-Maturational Model of Attachment and Adaptation (DMM, Crittenden). The two approaches have similarities and differences. The ABC+D approach has generated more research, while the DMM evolved to encompass greater depth and clinical breadth. Based on the DMM, we suggest new methodologies that could advance attachment theory’s clinical applications and assist the next generation of scholars to discover ways to relieve maladaptation and the suffering it causes. We briefly consider the interdependence of genetics, neurology, psychology, relationships, and context, suggesting types of research needed to expand attachment theory within and across each domain. We close with a discussion of approaches to theory construction that are necessary to accommodate systemic processes.
