Attachment has long been a key area of social development. Work on attachment processes has involved a variety of species as well as humans in diverse cultures and at various points in the life cycle. This volume presents research devoted to the meaning and implications of the attachment concept, including possible indices of attachment, the role of learning, whether or not attachment is best treated as continuous or discontinuous, and considerations for viewing attachment as a trait across environmental settings or as a process with functions that operate differently in disparate settings. Other psychological-process concepts, such as imprinting, relationships, and identification are also discussed. Because the contributors are active researchers and theorists, this volume may help establish trends and determine directions to shape literature on attachment for years to come.

Attachment theory has entered the mainstream, but most discussions focus on how we can cultivate secure monogamous relationships. What if, like many people, you're striving for secure, happy attachments with more than one partner? Polyamorous psychotherapist Jessica Fern breaks new ground by extending attachment theory into the realm of consensual nonmonogamy. Using her nested model of attachment and trauma, she expands our understanding of how emotional experiences can influence our relationships. Then, she sets out six specific strategies to help you move toward secure attachments in your multiple relationships. Polysecure is both a trailblazing theoretical treatise and a practical guide.

This book provides a new perspective on the association between religious beliefs and mental health. The book is divided into five parts, the first of which traces the development of theories of organic evolution in the cultural and religious context before Charles Darwin. Part II describes the major evolutionary theories that Darwin proposed in his three books on evolution, and the religious, sociological, and scientific reactions to his theories. Part III introduces the reader to the concept of evolutionary psychiatry. It discusses how different regions of the brain evolved over time, and explains that certain brain regions evolved to protect us from danger by assessing threats of harm in the environment, including other humans. Specifically, this part describes: how psychiatric symptoms that are commonly experienced by normal individuals during their everyday lives are the product of brain mechanisms that evolved to protect us from harm; the prevalence rate of psychiatric symptoms in the U.S. general population; how religious and other beliefs influence the brain mechanisms that underlie psychiatric symptoms; and the brain regions that are involved in different psychiatric disorders. Part IV presents the findings of U.S. studies demonstrating that positive beliefs about God and life-after-death, and belief in meaning-in-life and divine forgiveness have salutary associations with mental health, whereas negative beliefs about God and life-after-death, belief in the Devil and human evil, and doubts about one’s religious beliefs have pernicious associations with mental health. The last part of the book summarizes each section and recommends research on the brain mechanism underlying psychiatric symptoms, and the relationships among these brain mechanisms, religious beliefs, and mental health in the context of ETAS Theory.

This contributed volume examines the intersection of trauma and disaster behavioral health from a lifespan perspective, filling a critical gap in the literature on disaster mental health research. In the chapters, the contributors evaluate behavioral data of adults exposed to various environmental events in both the United States (i.e., the 2017 Hurricanes Irma in Florida and Harvey in Houston) and abroad (i.e., missile fire in the 2014 Israel-Gaza conflict). Contributors also suggest future directions, practices, and policies for trauma and disaster response. The three parts of the book provide an overview of disaster behavioral health across the lifespan, propose practical applications of research theories to psychosocial problems resulting from disasters and trauma, and evaluate disaster and trauma interventions from a macro-level perspective. Topics explored among the chapters include: Integrating Trauma-Informed Principles into Disaster Behavioral Health Targeting Older Adults Cultural Competence and Disaster Mental Health When Disasters Strike: Navigating the Challenges of “Sudden Science” Frameworks of Recovery: Health Caught at the Intersection of Housing, Education, and Employment Opportunities After Hurricane Katrina Substance Use Issues and Behavioral Health After a Disaster Psychosocial Recovery After Natural Disaster: International Advocacy, Policy, and Recommendations The Intersection of Trauma and Disaster Behavioral Health is a vital resource for researchers whose expertise covers the domains of trauma, health and wellness, and natural and technological disasters. The book also is a useful supplement to graduate courses in psychology, sociology, social work, disaster science, human ecology, and public health.

The process of emotional attachment, a critical factor in infant and child development, is now recognized as an important component of satisfying adult relationships. Building on the research and theories of developmental psychologists, ethologists, and social scientists, this ground'breaking book describes the characteristics and role of attachment in the adult years and presents new perspectives for understanding and changing an adult's ability to form life'enhancing personal relationships. Chapters provide methods for applying ideas about adult attachments to social research and clinical intervention, defining attachment for adults with supporting research and clinical evidence, explicating the varieties of attachment patterns for adults, and for demonstrating the clinical and therapeutic relevance of these constructs. This book is aimed at developmental psychologists, clinicians, and social scientists in psychiatry, psychology, and related mental health disciplines. Also an appropriate text for theoretical and clinical courses in psychiatry, psychology, and social work.

Day-to-day clinical guidance on what to do with all the attachment theory you’ve learned. Attachment theory is very popular in therapy these days. But what do you as a therapist do with all that theory? How can you use it to make the lives of your clients better? This book is a hands-on, practical guide to successful attachment-oriented interventions with parents and children who present with a variety of issues, from trauma to depression to anger. It begins with an understanding of attachment's role in stress regulation and relationships. With the basics examined, the book takes a deep dive into the practicalities of clinical work. The book lays out a detailed behavioral checklist for each attachment pattern (secure, avoidant, ambivalent, disorganized). This checklist provides a rich source of interventions for therapists. The author includes sensory-based interventions and how to use body-based methods. Play that strengthens attachments is also discussed. Individual chapters present interventions for: Children who have attachment issues due to complex trauma, grief, or adoption or custody decisions. The book includes innovate suggestions that range from creating visual treatment plans for children to the scripts or activities within sessions. Parents with attachment problems, including logistics of when to add children and other family members, and what to do in sessions. Highly stressed people. The book provides a practical format for communicating with stressed adults and children, especially those with executive dysfunction. Teens with attachment issues, addressing both connection and independence. People of faith whose attachment figure is God. Overall, the book describes common factors in successful attachment interventions. Written by a leading attachment therapist, this book applies decades of experience with clients empathic yet playful tone. It provides therapists with a range of therapy activities to make use of one of the most important mental health theories of the past quarter century. Chock-full of techniques and scripts for clinicians, the approaches here are practical, positive, and easy-to-implement.