Although the concept of attachment has been discussed since the early 1900s, it is only now achieving overt prominence with the general population. Numerous extensive volumes have been published in the last decade addressing human attachment, with several reaching distribution this past year. One of these comprehensive works is the Handbook of Attachment: Theory, Research, and Clinical Applications.
Editors Jude Cassidy and Phillip Shaver have done an admirable job of attempting to encompass nearly all aspects of attachment behavior. The Handbook is divided into six sections followed by an epilogue from Mary Main. The sections address the evolution of attachment theory, various biological perspectives, attachment theory throughout the life span, clinical applications of attachment theory, and emerging topics. Numerous prominent researchers and clinicians in the field have contributed to the 36 chapters. The end result is an extensive and comprehensive look at the field of attachment theory which delineates what is known and what remains to be answered.
Professionals well versed in attachment theory will find the first section a comprehensive review of attachment theory with little new to offer, but composed of wonderful teaching material. These chapters are primed for recommended readings for trainees or professionals new to the field. The authors also provide material speaking to the long-term sequellae of attachment, hinting at the material to come. Editor Jude Cassidy provided the first chapter, which gives a wonderful introduction for the reader new to the field. Surprisingly, Cassidy left out Zeanah et al.'s (1993, pp. 332 -349) research addressing the issue of an individual's attachments varying by relationship. The introductory chapters provided extensive coverage of a broad topic.
Jay Belsky provides one of the highlights of this volume for the experienced professional. His discussion of attachment in relation to the survival of particular genes versus the survival of the individual will surely inspire additional research and lively debate. Belsky views certain attachment classifications that have been labeled negatively (A & C) as adaptive given the environment. The connection of animal research to human behavior was demonstrated masterfully in Suomi's chapter discussing the behavior of rhesus monkeys. Vaughn and Bost provide a comprehensive review of the literature linking attachment and temperament. Their conclusion that no robust correlations could be identified speaks to an interesting continuing debate in the field. Fox and Card also provide a comprehensive and interesting chapter on the physiological correlates of attachment behavior. This chapter was well written and coherent for readers not well versed in physiology.