This book presents cutting-edge research on adult attachment together with a complete overview of the Adult Attachment Projective Picture System (AAP), the authors' validated developmental assessment. In addition to identifying attachment classification groups, the AAP yields important information about dimensions--including defensive processes--not evaluated by other available measures. Detailed case illustrations show what the AAP looks like in action and what it reveals about individuals' early experiences, sense of self, and capacity to engage in close, protective relationships. The AAP can be used in clinical or research settings; the concluding chapter discusses promising applications to studying the neurobiology of attachment.
This book presents cutting-edge research on adult attachment together with a complete overview of the Adult Attachment Projective Picture System (AAP), the authors' validated developmental assessment. In addition to research applications, the AAP can be of great use for clinicians seeking to understand the attachment strengths and challenges that clients bring to therapy. The book describes how the AAP identifies attachment classification groups and yields important information about dimensions--including defensive processes--not evaluated by other available measures. Part I examines the theoretical underpinnings of the AAP and compares it to other adult attachment assessments. The authors explain how autobiographical narrative, as elicited and analyzed by the AAP, can offer strong insights into essential features of attachment. Part II reviews the nuts and bolts of the AAP: its development and validation, how it is administered, and how the coding and classification system works. Chapters in Part III contain detailed case illustrations that show what the AAP looks like "in action" and what it reveals about individuals' early experiences, sense of self, and capacity to engage in close, protective relationships. Cases, which include childhood history and verbatim AAP transcripts, represent the four major adult attachment classification groups: secure, dismissing, preoccupied, and unresolved. The concluding chapter discusses promising uses of the AAP in neurobiological research. A unique and timely contribution to the field, this authoritative book belongs on the desks of all developmental and clinical researchers interested in attachment, as well as clinical psychologists, social workers, psychiatrists, and other clinicians who want to integrate attachment into their practices.
"Research on patterns of adults' thoughts, memories, and feelings about intimate family relationships--especially child-parent relationships--has developed steadily and dramatically. One of the biggest challenges is developing assessment tools that successfully balance scientific precision, reliability, and validity with practical clinical utility. This volume represents the most promising attempt to meet this need that I have seen to date. I am certain this book will motivate researchers and clinicians alike to use the AAP in their work, and will become a well-worn reference."--Robert Marvin, PhD, University of Virginia, and Director, The Mary Ainsworth Child-Parent Attachment Clinic"The AAP is an exciting and useful tool for research and clinical practice. George and West describe the development and major features of the AAP while also providing incisive, original contributions to contemporary attachment theory. This book is appropriate for researchers and clinicians--both experts and novices--and for graduate students. I eagerly anticipate using it in training clinicians in Therapeutic Assessment."--Stephen E. Finn, PhD, Founder, Center for Therapeutic Assessment; Department of Psychology, University of Texas at Austin"This splendid, important book is grounded in a strong theory and infused with creativity. It presents an assessment method that is user friendly and economical, validated in clinical and community samples, and confirmed by neurobiological research. The book uses many case examples to illustrate adults' representations of attachment patterns. For graduate students, it is a guide to thinking beyond existing methods when asking new questions. For professionals in clinical and research settings, it opens a window to unconscious relationship biases."--Karin Grossmann, PhD, Department of Psychology, University of Regensburg, Germany-
