Table Of Content“This impressive collection of unpublished works provides the reader
with an exceptional opportunity to further understand the treasured and
influential thoughts and ideas of John Bowlby, especially his theoretical
perspective on trauma and loss. This book is a must read for clinicians
interested in the applications of attachment theory, for researchers who
wish to broaden their understanding of attachment theory, and for devel-
opmental psychopathologists whose main principles have been greatly
influenced by Bowlby’s brilliant viewpoint. Professionals from avariety of
disciplines, in addition to students in developmental and clinical science,
will profit greatly from a thorough reading of this volume.”
– Dante Cicchetti,
McKnight Presidential Chair, William Harris Professor,
Institute of Child Development, University of Minnesota, USA
“An extraordinary selection of previously unpublished material giving bril-
liant insights into the working of a brilliant mind. The editors are to be
warmly congratulated on a collection that is not only of immense historical
value, but remarkably speaks to current controversies in relation to trauma,
resilience, and the philosophy of psychological science. An essential supple-
menttotheBowlbyoeuvre.”
– Peter Fonagy,
Professor & Head of the Division of Psychology
and Language Sciences at UCL; Chief Executive of the
Anna Freud National Centre for Children and Families, London, UK
“Attachmentscholarsandcliniciansalikewillfindinthiscollectionaseriesof
rare treasures, among them insightsinto Bowlby’s bold challenges to psycho-
analysis and into the ways his work laid the groundwork for contemporary
relationalandtraumatheory.Thesepapers,manyofthemwelloverfiftyyears
old, remind us – once again – of Bowlby’s brilliance and remarkable presci-
ence in predicting much of what is mainstream developmental and clinical
theorytoday.”
– Arietta Slade,
Clinical Professor at the Yale Child Study Center and Professor Emerita,
Clinical Psychology at the City University of New York, USA
“This book is a treasure. What a gift to have further seminal thoughts from
one of the greatest thinkers of the twentieth century. Readers who want to
know more about the scientist and those who want to know more about the
clinicianbothwill find this bookvaluable. Allwill enjoy learning more about
the dogged curiosityand humilityof this giant of a scholar. Bowlby wasway
ahead ofhistimeinunderstanding segregatedmentalsystems,developmental
consequences of trauma, and family dynamics. He still speaks to us today
aboutpracticalcurrentissuessuchasdisplacementandmigration.”
– Alan Sroufe,
Professor Emeritus of Child Psychology, University of Minnesota, USA
“John Bowlby created a theory that enabled researchers and others to
observe and ask questions about child-parent interactions in a completely
new way. His theory laid the groundwork for studying how children and
their parents construct an attachment relationship through sensitive and
attuned interaction, what can go wrong in the process, and how attachment
difficulties may be repaired. In a world in which people are increasingly dis-
tracted and alienated, attachment theory, as it has developed, offers the
potential for promoting healing empathy, both forothers and foroneself.
These newly published texts of John Bowlby are a treasure trove for
anyone interested in attachment theory and its application to psychothera-
peutic work.”
– Prof. Dr. Med. Karl Heinz Brisch,
Chair of The Early Life Care Institute at the
Paracelsus Medical University, Salzburg, Austria
“This must-read volume re-affirms John Bowlby as a towering figure in
psychological science. It shows how ahead of his time he was in his evalu-
ation of the strengths and limitations of Freud’s work (the essay on
defences is a masterpiece), his encylopaedic command of ethological, psy-
chological and neuroscientific evidence, and the brilliance and originality
of his thought. Compiled by cutting-edge scholars, it reinforces Attach-
ment, with its deep Darwinian roots, as an essential starting point for all
serious psychologists, psychotherapists and mental health researchers.”
– Prof Jeremy Holmes,
University of Exeter, UK
“John Bowlby was one of the most courageous and creative thinkers of the
past century. He illuminated in unique ways the origins of our humanity.
We are gifted here to have the privilege to understand further how he
reflected on the central questions surrounding the early attachment rela-
tionship and wended his way towards his masterful trilogy on Attachment,
Separation, and Loss. This volume of unpublished papers has many riches
that will occupy Bowlby scholars and researchers long into the future.”
– Karlen Lyons-Ruth, Ph.D., Professor,
Harvard Medical School, USA
“A fascinating insight into the workings of John Bowlby’s creative mind,
especially his prescient concerns about necessary future changes in psycho-
analytic defence theory associated with traumatic loss of the mother in the
earliest stages of human development.”
– Allan N. Schore, Ph.D.,
Department of Psychiatry and Biobehavioral Sciences,
UniversityofCaliforniaatLosAngelesDavidGeffenSchoolofMedicine,USA
Trauma and Loss
Key Texts from the John Bowlby
Archive
During his lifetime, John Bowlby, the founder of attachment theory, was
unable to publish as he wished due to strong opposition to his ideas. Now,
with the support of the Bowlby family, several complete and near-complete
works from the John Bowlby Archive at the Wellcome Collection are pub-
lished for the first time.
The collection spans Bowlby’s thinking from his early ideas to later
reflections and is split into four parts. Part 1 includes essays on the topic
of loss, mourning, and depression, outlining his thoughts on the role of
defence mechanisms. Part 2 covers Bowlby’s ideas around anxiety, guilt,
and identification, including reflections on his observations of and work
with evacuated children. Part 3 features three seminars on the subject of
conflict, in which Bowlby relates clinical concepts to both political philoso-
phy and psychoanalysis in innovative ways. Part 4 consists of Bowlby’s
later reflections on trauma and loss and on his own work as a therapist.
This remarkable collection not only clarifies Bowlby’s relationship with
psychoanalysis, but also features his elaboration of key concepts in attach-
ment theory and important moments of self-criticism.
It will be essential reading for clinicians, researchers, and others interested
in human development, relationships, and adversity.
Robbie Duschinsky is Senior University Lecturer in Social Sciences in the
PrimaryCareUnit,UniversityofCambridge.HeisalsoaFellowandDirector
ofStudiesatSidneySussexCollege.
Kate White is an attachment-based psychoanalytic psychotherapist, super-
visor, and member of The Bowlby Centre, London. She is also Editor
Emeritus for Attachment: New Directions in Psychotherapy and Relational
Psychoanalysis and Series Editor for The Bowlby Centre Monographs.
Trauma and Loss
Key Texts from the
John Bowlby Archive
Edited by Robbie Duschinsky and
Kate White
First published 2020
by Routledge
2Park Square, Milton Park, Abingdon, Oxon OX14 4RN
and by Routledge
52 Vanderbilt Avenue, New York, NY 10017
RoutledgeisanimprintoftheTaylor&FrancisGroup,aninformabusiness
©2020selectionandeditorialmatter,RobbieDuschinskyandKateWhite;
individualchapters,thecontributors
The right of Robbie Duschinsky and Kate Whiteto beidentified
asthe author[/s] of the editorial material, and of the authorsfor
theirindividual chapters, has beenasserted inaccordancewith
sections 77 and 78 of the Copyright, Designs and Patents Act
1988.
All rightsreserved. No part of thisbookmay be reprinted or
reproduced or utilised inany form orbyany electronic,
mechanical, or other means, now known orhereafter invented,
including photocopying and recording, or in anyinformation
storage or retrieval system, without permission in writing from
thepublishers.
Trademark notice: Product orcorporate namesmay be
trademarksor registered trademarks, and are used only for
identification and explanationwithout intent to infringe.
British Library Cataloguing-in-Publication Data
A catalogue record for thisbookis available from the British
Library
Library of Congress Cataloging-in-Publication Data
A catalog record has been requested for thisbook
ISBN: 978-0-367-34998-1(hbk)
ISBN: 978-0-367-34999-8(pbk)
ISBN: 978-0-429-32923-4(ebk)
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Contents
Illustrations ix
Acknowledgements x
Foreword xi
MIRIAMSTEELEANDHOWARDSTEELE
Introduction 1
ROBBIEDUSCHINSKYANDKATEWHITE
PART1
Mature theoretical writings 15
1 Defencesthatfollowloss:Causationandfunction 17
Appendix:Selectiveexclusionandlevelsofmotivation 64
2 Loss,detachmentanddefence 66
Appendix:LetterfromMaryAinsworth 92
3 Theplaceofdefensiveexclusionindepressivedisorders 97
4 Darwin:Psychiatryanddevelopmentalpsychology 104
PART2
Early writings on guilt, anxiety, and identification 115
5 Psychologicalproblemsofevacuation 117
viii Contents
6 Freudandthesuper-ego 134
7 Guiltandfamilycontracts 141
PART3
Seminars at Stanford and the Tavistock 165
8 Apsycho-analyticapproachtoconflictanditsregulation:
AseminardeliveredtomembersoftheStanfordConflict
Seminar,January,1958 167
9 AseminardeliveredtomembersoftheStanfordConflict
Seminar,February,1958 173
10 Psychologicalprocessesevokedbyamajorpsycho-social
transition 178
Appendix:TransitionsbyColinMurrayParkes 183
PART4
Retrospective reflections 185
11 InterviewwithAliceSmuts 187
12 Theroleofthepsychotherapist’spersonalresourcesinthe
treatmentsituation 214
Index 224
Illustrations
Figures
1 SelectiveExclusionofMotivation&LevelsofMotivation:
Bowlby,J.TheoryofDefence,JBnotes,1960–1963.PP/BOW/H10 65
2 ElementsoftheTransitionReactionbyColinMurrayParkes,
March1974 183
Table
1 SelectiveExclusionofMotivation&LevelsofMotivation 64
