Attachment Styles and HIV-Risk Behavior

Despite decades of HIV related safer sex education anumber of men who have sex with men continue toengage in sexual risk behaviors and remain at riskfor contracting HIV. Research has shown significantcorrelations between various risk factors andHIV-risk behaviors, but the exact nature of therelationship has remained unexplained. Volker Schuetzexplores in his book John Bowlby's construct ofattachment as an underlying factor that could explainwhy some men continue to engage in sexual riskbehaviors, such as unprotected anal intercourse,despite knowledge of the risk. After a thoroughoverview and integration of the attachment andHIV-risk behavior literature, Schuetz takes thereader into a fascinating, deeper exploration of thequestion how the relationship between infant andcaregiver (attachment) not only influences adultromantic relationships but also could bear the rootsfor the underlying reason for some men to engage inunsafe sex. This book is a must read forpractitioners, researchers, and anyone who wants togain better understanding of the continuous unsafesex practice amongst some men who have sex with men.

Dr. Schuetz holds an advanced degree in psychology fromAlbert-Ludwigs-University in Freiburg, Germany and received hisdoctorate in clinical psychology from Long Island University/C.W. Post, in New York. He is currently the Director of Psychologyin a large hospital in New York City where he helps individualscope with chronic illness.