Theories of Attachment: An Introduction to Bowlby, Ainsworth, Gerber, Brazelton, Kennell, and Klaus

by Carol Garhart Mooney

In this book, early childcare professionals will gain an understanding of the theories of attachment as well as the background and research of the prominent minds behind them. This book explains the core elements of each theorist’s work and the ways these elements impact and support interactions with babies, including the topics of bonding, feeding practices, separation anxiety, and stranger anxiety. Carol Garhart Mooney , also the author of the best-selling Theories of Childhood , has worked as a preschool teacher and college instructor of early childhood education for over thirty years.

Genres: Parenting, Psychology, Nonfiction

120 pages, Paperback

First published January 1, 2009

Reviews

[Heather · Rating 4 out of 5]

I found this book very helpful and I'm glad I found it. Before my son was born I read Dr. Sears and the ideas of attachment parenting seemed to make sense ... and then I had a baby! I started to see ways that the ideas in the Sears books didn't reflect our reality, or seemed to preclude the things that I thought were better for my baby, or that seemed to appeal to my emotional context as an adult rather than research or solid arguments as to how certain practices are actually known to effect babies' development. I decided to read this book to find out whether the Sears/AP ideas were really reflective of the science of attachment theory. What I found was reassuring.

This book explains the research and findings of a selection of attachment theorists and shows that what a child needs, for proper development in terms of relationships and self-confidence, is to form a "secure" and lasting attachment to at least one caregiver. This attachment is formed in the first year of life when the child's needs are met and his attempts at communication responded to consistently. And that's really it! He doesn't need to be attached to your body 24/7. He doesn't need to nurse for three years (or at all). If your child, during the stage of separation anxiety (reached between 8 and 14 months) cries when you leave the room and is happy when you return, then he has a secure attachment. I don't know how something so inherently flexible has ended up as something so prescriptive and guilt-inducing!

This book is geared towards child care workers so not everything in it is relevant to parents, but I recommend it for the sections that summarize the work of the various attachment theorists. Other parts would be helpful if you have an infant in childcare. I found that there was a tone of negativity toward American culture that was a bit of a turn-off for me (despite the message of cultural acceptance which was emphasized throughout, go figure) but it is not predominant.

[Kārlis Bergmanis · Rating 4 out of 5]

Great overview with great reference list. It's aimed towards child care centers, but I think that a parent interested in psychology will find it useful and will benefit from picking up suggested book or two.

[Daniel Perry · Rating 3 out of 5]

I shouldn't fault this book for not being the book I wanted it to be, but I was really hoping for a little more about attachment disorders later in life, as opposed to the explanation of different theories of attachment between parents and infants that this book focuses. A decent grounding in the material, though, and an accessible, concise survey. It will help my understanding of the book I'm really looking for when I find it.