Introduction

This chapter addresses the history of the beginnings of attachment theory, with a focus on John Bowlby, the originator of the theory. It concerns Mary Ainsworth, the co-founder of attachment theory, who developed the Strange Situation, a way of measuring attachment, but only attachment behaviors in infants. The chapter describes the work of Mary Main, who devised the Adult Attachment Interview, a measure of adult states of mind with respect to attachment. It also describes the neurobiology of attachment, detailing the structures of the brain and its inner workings. The chapter talk about psychophysiology, with an emphasis on stress and attachment. It explores the study of emotions, with a particular emphasis on emotions and attachment. The chapter also explores affect regulation, and then describes the developmental trajectory of affect regulation within the context of the attachment relationship. It delves into the construct of mentalization and compares regulation therapy with mentalization therapy.