This authoritative work provides a systematic, comprehensive overview of theory and research on adult attachment. The authors—who have been at the forefront of this rapidly growing field since the concepts of ""adult attachment"" and ""attachment style"" were first developed—trace how Bowlby and Ainsworth's original constructs have evolved through the study of adolescents and adults. They review extant measures and analyze how attachment theory has been used to advance scientific understanding of emotions, social cognition, close relationships, psychopathology, and psychotherapy.
"Superb...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." - PsycCRITIQUES
"This rewarding journey into the vast scientific literature is appropriately cautious, avoiding excessive assumptions and conceptual leaps, yet it has breathtaking implications for helping us construct a fuller picture of the social nature of the mind and how we develop well-being in our lives." - Daniel J. Siegel, Department of Psychiatry and Center for Culture, Brain, and Development, UCLA School of Medicine, USA
"Reading Attachment in Adulthood by Mikulincer and Shaver is like stepping into a classroom with two master teachers and researchers....For clinicians, this compendium of accessible clinically relevant research benefits clinical assessments and decisions about clinical interventions, and contributes to personal awareness and growth." - Clinical Social Work Journal
"Mikulincer and Shaver do a superb job of showcasing just how much the field of interpersonal relationships has progressed since Hazan and Shaver decided to run a little ad for a simple self-report study in a local newspaper....A 'must read' for anyone who is interested in the science of relationships." - Jeffry A. Simpson, Department of Psychology, University of Minnesota, USA
"The students in my close relationships seminar find this book extremely stimulating." - Kelly Brennan-Jones, Department of Psychology, State University of New York at Brockport, USA