John Bowlby - From Psychoanalysis to Ethology: Unravelling the Roots of Attachment Theory

ISBN-13: 9780470683644 / Angielski / Twarda / 2011 / 216 str.

Frank C. P. van der Horst;¬Abar;¬Abar

Opis

This accessible book draws on unique evidence from oral histories and little-known archive material to shed new light on the working relationships which led to John Bowlby's shift from psychoanalysis to ethology as a frame of reference - and ultimately to the development of attachment theory.

• A unique exploration of the origins of Bowlby's ideas and the critical transformation in his thinking - offers an alternative to standard accounts of the origin of attachment theory
• Explores the significance of Bowlby's influential working relationships with Robert Hinde, Harry Harlow, James Robertson and Mary Ainsworth
• Provides students, academics, and practitioners with clear insights into the development of attachment theory
• Accessible to general readers interested in psychology and psychoanalysis

In recent years, attachment theory has become established as a major theory in developmental psychology. Work by the founders of attachment theory, John Bowlby (1907–1990) and Mary Ainsworth (1913–1999) has been voted among the five most revolutionary studies in child psychology. Much work has been carried out on attachment–related issues, but the history of attachment theory itself remains under–researched. This book bridges an important gap in our knowledge of the history of developmental psychology.Drawing on unique evidence from oral histories and little–known archive material, John Bowlby – From Psychoanalysis to Ethology offers a description of the ‘cross–fertilization’ of attachment theory and ethology. Frank van der Horst describes the influential relationship between Bowlby and British ethologist Robert Hinde, which led Bowlby to rewrite psychoanalysis in the light of ethological principles. He also documents Bowlby’s close personal contacts with animal psychologist Harry Harlow and psychoanalyst James Robertson, and his cooperation with Mary Ainsworth. By exploring the significance of these relationships, he sheds light on Bowlby’s gradual shift from psychoanalysis to ethology – a shift which proved to be of great significance not only in his own work supporting children but in the work of developmental psychologists globally.

Recenzje

van der Horst s treatment of the cross–fertilization of ideas as well as the personal and professional relationships that went into their making is commendable. Given our own contemporary interest in the promises and pitfalls of interdisciplinarity, it emphasizes the many gains that can emerge out of an active commitment to talk across disciplines. With its focus on a series of important attempts to merge the goals of the psychological and the natural sciences, van der Horst s book should equally interest historians of ethology, biology, psychology, psychoanalysis, and the human sciences more broadly. Despite the complex nature of the story that it tells, this book is highly accessible and well suited to nonspecialists and specialists alike." (Journal of the History of the Behavioral Sciences, 2 October 2013)

Overall, this book, although somewhat cost–prohibitive, does a very good job of helping to contextualize the development of attachment theory and would be useful reading for both clinicians and researchers at all levels of understanding regarding attachment theory. I agree with Jerome Kagan that this is a coherent, gracefully written, even–handed, and richly detailed description.   (Journal of Marital and Family Therapy, 1 October 2012)

Nonetheless, for those interested in the history of psychology, and attachment theory in particular, I recommend John Bowlby: From Psychoanalysis to Ethology for what it tells us about the origins of attachment and John Bowlby s courageous forging of attachment theory.   (PsycCRITIQUES, 2 May 2012)

"... (this book)does a very good job of helping to contextualize the development of attachment theory and would be useful reading for both clinicians and researchers at all levels of understanding regarding attachment theory. I agree with Jerome Kagan that this is a "coherent, gracefully written, even–handed, and richly detailed description"." (Journal Marital and Family Therapy, October 2011)

Spis treści

About the Author.

Foreword (Professor Jerome Kagan).

Acknowledgments.

Introduction.

1 Biographical Notes and Early Career.

2 Loneliness in Infancy: The WHO Report and Issues of Separation.

3 Working with James Robertson: The Importance of Observation.

4 Bowlby s Acquaintance with Ethology: The Work of Lorenz, Tinbergen, and Hinde.

5 From Theoretical Claims to Empirical Evidence: Harry Harlow and the Nature of Love.

6 Mary Ainsworth′s Role in the Study of Attachment.

Conclusions.

References.

Name Index.

Subject Index.

O autorze

Frank C. P. van der Horst is a psychologist at De Waag Rotterdam, an outpatient clinic for forensic psychiatry, and a researcher at the Centre for Child and Family Studies, Leiden University. His research aims at describing the history of ideas in the behavioural sciences, such as the ideas and work of John Bowlby, René Spitz, William Goldfarb, Jean Piaget, and Harry Harlow.

Blurb

In recent years, attachment theory has become established as a major theory in developmental psychology. Work by the founders of attachment theory, John Bowlby (1907–1990) and Mary Ainsworth (1913–1999) has been voted among the five most revolutionary studies in child psychology. Much work has been carried out on attachment–related issues, but the history of attachment theory itself remains under–researched. This book bridges an important gap in our knowledge of the history of developmental psychology.

Drawing on unique evidence from oral histories and little–known archive material, John Bowlby From Psychoanalysis to Ethology offers a description of the cross–fertilization of attachment theory and ethology. Frank van der Horst describes the influential relationship between Bowlby and British ethologist Robert Hinde, which led Bowlby to rewrite psychoanalysis in the light of ethological principles. He also documents Bowlby s close personal contacts with animal psychologist Harry Harlow and psychoanalyst James Robertson, and his cooperation with Mary Ainsworth. By exploring the significance of these relationships, he sheds light on Bowlby s gradual shift from psychoanalysis to ethology a shift which proved to be of great significance not only in his own work supporting children but in the work of developmental psychologists globally.