Adult Attachment: A Concise Introduction to Theory and Research

Adult Attachment: A Concise Introduction to Theory and Research is an easy-to-read and highly accessible reference on attachment that deals with many of the key concepts and topics studied within attachment theory. This book is comprised of a series of chapters framed by common questions that are typically asked by novices entering the field of attachment. The content of each chapter focuses on answering this overarching question.

Topics on the development of attachment are covered from different levels of analysis, including species, individual, and relationship levels, working models of attachment, attachment functions and hierarchies, attachment stability and change over time and across situations, relationship contexts, the cognitive underpinnings of attachment and its activation of enhancement via priming, the interplay between the attachment behavioral system and other behavioral systems, the effects of context on attachment, the contribution of physiology/neurology and genetics to attachment, the associations/differences between attachment and temperament, the conceptualization and measurement of attachment, and the association between attachment and psychopathology/therapy.

TEDx talk: The Power of (Secure) Love by Omri Gillath: https://youtu.be/PgIQv-rTGgA

• Uses a question-and-answer format to address the most important topics within attachment theory
• Presents information in a simple, easy-to-understand way to ensure accessibility for novices in the field of attachment
• Covers the main concepts and issues that relate to attachment theory, thus ensuring readers develop a strong foundation in attachment theory that they can then apply to the study of relationships
• Addresses future directions in the field of attachment theory
• Concisely covers material, ensuring scholars and professionals can quickly get up-to-speed with the most recent research

Dr. Omri Gillath is a Full Professor in the Department of Psychology and the Hoglund Brain Imaging Center at the University of Kansas. He obtained his M.A. and Ph.D. in Psychology from Bar-Ilan University, Israel. Dr. Gillath’s research focuses on close relationships, attachment processes, social networks, AI, and the underlying mechanisms of social interactions. He specializes in the underpinnings of human pair-bonding behavior and the personality facets affecting behavior and cognition. He has authored two books, including the first edition of Adult Attachment.

Dr. Gery Karantzas is a Professor of Psychology at Deakin University, Australia. He obtained his BSc from the University of Melbourne and PhD at La Trobe University. Dr. Karantzas’s research focuses on close personal relationships and social development, and he is a member of the Centre for Health and Risk Behaviors and Mental Wellbeing (CHARM). He co-authored the first edition of Adult Attachment.

Dr. R. Chris Fraley is a Professor of Psychology at the University of Illinois, Urbana-Champaign. He obtained his PhD from the University of California, Davis, in Social-Personality Psychology. Dr. Fraley’s research focuses on the study of attachment processes in close relationships, personality dynamics and development, and research methods. He is broadly interested in issues at the interface of social cognition, development, evolution, and psychodynamics. Dr. Fraley has received the American Psychological Association’s Distinguished Scientific Award for Early Career Contribution to Psychology in the area of Individual Differences. He co-authored the first edition of Adult Attachment.