Edward John Mostyn Bowlby (1907-1990) was a British psychiatrist and psychoanalyst who is known for his groundbreaking work in developing attachment theory. He is best known for his book, Attachment and Loss, which was published in 1969 and is considered to be one of the most influential works in the field of attachment theory. Bowlby’s work has had a major influence on the fields of psychology, psychiatry, and child development, and has been used to explain a wide range of psychological phenomena, such as attachment disorder, separation anxiety, and post-traumatic stress disorder.
Bowlby was born and raised in London and studied at Trinity College, Cambridge, where he developed an interest in psychology. He then went on to study medicine at St. Bartholomew’s Hospital Medical School, and later to specialize in psychiatry. After completing his training, he worked in several psychiatric hospitals, including the Maudsley Hospital in London, where he became interested in the study of the behavior of young children, particularly those with mothers who had died or had been separated from them.
In the 1950s, Bowlby began to develop his theory of attachment, which posits that a secure attachment between a child and a primary caregiver is essential for the child’s healthy psychological development. He argued that children who lack a secure attachment to a primary caregiver may develop a range of psychological issues, such as depression and anxiety. Bowlby’s work has been influential in the development of therapies that aim to create a secure attachment between a child and a primary caregiver, such as attachment-based therapy.
In addition to his work on attachment theory, Bowlby also wrote extensively on a number of other topics, including the effects of poverty and deprivation on children, the psychological effects of war, and the development of secure base behavior in children. He also wrote several books, including Separation Anxiety and Loss, and co-wrote a book on the psychological effects of loss and mourning with J. Robertson.
Bowlby’s work has been highly influential in the fields of psychology, psychiatry, and child development, and his legacy continues to be felt today. His work has been used to explain a wide range of psychological phenomena, and his theories are still widely accepted and used in practice.
References
Bowlby, E. J. (1969). Attachment and Loss. New York, NY: Basic Books.
Bowlby, J. (1982). Separation Anxiety and Loss. London, UK: Pelican.
Bowlby, J., & Robertson, J. (1944). The effects of loss and mourning. Proceedings of the Royal Society of Medicine, 37, 215-219.
Cassidy, J., & Shaver, P. (1999). Handbook of Attachment: Theory, Research, and Clinical Applications. New York, NY: Guilford Press.
Fonagy, P., & Target, M. (2003). Attachment-based psychotherapy. Bulletin of the Menninger Clinic, 67(1), 5-33.