ABSTRACT
Attachment theory occupies an integrative position between psychodynamic therapy and various perspectives within empirical psychology. Since therapy began, its way of thinking has been to interpret mental processes in relation to meaningful psychological objects between children and parents, partners, friends, and within individual therapy. This volume summarises the research literature relating to attachment theory in developmental psychology in order to clarify conclusions that support practice. Part 1 considers the received wisdom about attachment, and summarises the literature and what it means for understanding relationships and defences as part of development. Part 2 considers attachment in relation to emotional regulations, while part 3 applies the clarified understanding of attachment processes to inform assessment and therapy, and more broadly, mental health work in general. The ideas of Sigmund Freud and John Bowlby are used to reinvigorate psychodynamic practice.
TABLE OF CONTENTS
part I|88 pages
The Received Wisdom about Attachment
chapter |2 pages
Introduction to Part I
chapter ONE|30 pages
Attachment phenomena and their background
chapter TWO|32 pages
The standard interpretation and its processes
chapter THREE|22 pages
Psychodynamics, motivation, and defence
part II|61 pages
The Role of Attachment in Reducing Distress
chapter |2 pages
Introduction to Part II
chapter FOUR|17 pages
Meta-representation and motivation
chapter FIVE|19 pages
The good life is correcting imbalance
chapter SIX|19 pages
Achieving rebalance
part III|89 pages
Increasing Security as a Condition of Successful Therapy