The Significance of the Developmental Thoughts of John Bowlby and Martin Adams: Theoretical understandings and clinical implications
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.65828/6jw6cc35Keywords:
Human development, attachment theory, existential phenomenology, John Bowlby, Martin Adams, psychotherapy, traumaAbstract
This paper explores the developmental perspectives of John Bowlby and Martin Adams. Bowlby grounded attachment in real events and relationships, while Adams reframes development through temporality, narrative and meaning. Together, their perspectives highlight human development as a lived, unfolding process which can be explored in the therapeutic space.
Complete access to the full archive of articles is available with SEA membership. Existing members: please log in with your membership password to view full text. Non-members can buy a single article or issue by registering an account on this website, then selecting a padlocked full text button to purchase.
References
Adams, M. (2006). Towards an existential-phenomenological model of life span human development. Existential Analysis: Journal of the Society for Existential Analysis. 17.2: 261-280. DOI: https://doi.org/10.65828/85jrbm98
Adams, M. (2013a). A Concise Introduction to Existential Counselling. London: Sage Publications. DOI: https://doi.org/10.4135/9781473915039
Adams, M. (2013b). Human development from an existential-phenomenological perspective: Some thoughts and considerations. Existential Analysis: Journal of the Society for Existential Analysis. 24.1: 48-56. DOI: https://doi.org/10.65828/vb1w9730
Adams, M. (2018). An Existential Approach to Human Development: Philosophical and therapeutic perspectives. London: Red Globe Press.
Adams, M. (2021). Practising Phenomenology: Some Reflections and Considerations. Existential Analysis: Journal of the Society for Existential Analysis. 32(2), 32–44. DOI: https://doi.org/10.65828/ftd01e90
Adams, M. (2022). A philosophy of art & curios: An interview with Dr Martin Adams. Global Existential Summit. Online: existentialsummit.com/martin-adams [Accessed on 30th November 2023.]
Barnes, H. (1993). Sartre’s concept of the self. In Hoeller, K. (ed.) Studies in Existential Psychology and Psychiatry: Sartre and psychology. New Jersey: Humanities Press.
Beauvoir, S. de (1997). The Second Sex. Reprinted ed. Trans. & ed. Parshley, H.M. London: Random House.
Bowlby, J. (1940). The influence of early environment in the development of neurosis and neurotic character. International Journal of Psycho Analysis. Vol. 21: 154-178. DOI: https://doi.org/10.4324/9780429475924-12
Bowlby, J. (1947). Forty-Four Juvenile Thieves: Their characters and home-life. Reprinted ed. London: Bailliere, Tindall & Cox. DOI: https://doi.org/10.4324/9780203779958-9
Bowlby, J. (1947). Maternal care and mental health. Bulletin World Organization, National Library of Medicine. 101 (12): 749. doi. DOI: https://doi.org/10.2471/blt.23.001223
Bowlby, J. (2023 [1951]). Maternal Care and Mental Health. Bulletin World Organization, National Library of Medicine. 101 (12): 749. doi. DOI: https://doi.org/10.2471/blt.23.001223
Bowlby, J. (1982). Attachment and Loss. 2nd ed. London: Basic Books.
Bowlby, J. (2015 [1988]). A Secure Base. Reprinted ed. New York: Routledge. DOI: https://doi.org/10.4324/9780203440841
Bowlby, J. (1990). John Bowlby (1907–1990): Interviewed by Leonardo Tondo in London, England. Clinical Neuropsychiatry. 8 (2): 159-171. Interview transcript. DOI: https://doi.org/10.5040/9798400654138.0013
Bretherton, I. (1992). The origins of attachment theory: John Bowlby and Mary Ainsworth. Developmental Psychology. 28 (5): 759-775. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1037/0012-1649.28.5.759
Bruner, J. (1990). Acts of Meaning. Cambridge, MA: Harvard University Press.
Cohn, H.W. (1998). John Bowlby’s concern with the actual phenomenological aspects of attachment theory. Existential Analysis: Journal of the Society for Existential Analysis. 9.1: 43-51. DOI: https://doi.org/10.65828/0vwnx952
Erikson, E.H. (1982). The Life Cycle Completed. London: W.W. Norton & Co.
Freud, S. (1905/2001). Three Essays on the Theory of Sexuality. In J. Strachey (Ed & Trans), The Standard Edition of the Complete Psychological Works of Sigmund Freud, Vol. 7, 123–245. London: Vintage. DOI: https://doi.org/10.5040/9798216381136
Heidegger, M. (1962 [1927]). Being and Time. Trans. Macquarrie, J. & Robinson, E. Oxford: Blackwell Publishing.
Husserl, E. (2001 [1901]). Logical Investigations: Vols. 1-2. Trans. Findlay, J.N. London: Routledge.
Keenan T., Evans, S. & Crowley, K. (2016). An Introduction to Child Development. 3rd ed. London: Sage Publications. DOI: https://doi.org/10.4135/9781036235048
Kierkegaard, S. (1989 [1849]). The Sickness Unto Death: A Christian psychological exposition for upbuilding and awakening. Trans. Hong, H.V. & Hong E.H. Princeton University Press.
Merleau-Ponty, M. (2012 [1945]). Phenomenology of Perception. Abingdon: Routledge.
Merleau-Ponty, M. (1964). The child’s relations with others. In Edie, J.M. (ed.) The Primacy of Perception. Trans. Cobb, W. Evanston: Northwestern University Press.
Oskis, A. (2015). John Bowlby: An interview by Virginia Hunter. Attachments, New Directions in Psychotherapy and Relational Psychoanalysis. 9 (2): 138-157.
Pessoa, F. (2018). I took off the mask. In Fernando Pessoa: Twenty Poems. Trans. Kline, A.S. https://poetrytranslation.com [Accessed on 1st December 2023.]
Piaget, J. (1952 [1936]). The Origins of Intelligence in Children. Trans. Cook, M. Madison, CT: International Universities Press. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1037/11494-000
Reuther, B.T. (2014). On our everyday being: Heidegger and attachment theory. Journal of Theoretical and Philosophical Psychology. 34 (2): 101-115. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1037/a0033040
Rutter, M. & Foss, B.M. (eds.) (1976). Maternal Deprivation Reassessed. Reprinted ed. Harmondsworth: Penguin Books.
Sartre, J-P. (2003 [1943]). Being and Nothingness. Trans. Barnes, H.E. London: Routledge. DOI: https://doi.org/10.4324/9780203827123
Sartre, J-P. (1991 [1985]). Critique of Dialectical Reason, Vol 2: The intelligibility of history. Trans. Gilbert, S. London: Routledge.
Stevenson-Hinde, J. (2007). Attachment theory and John Bowlby: Some reflections. Attachment and Human Development. 9 (4): 337-342. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1080/14616730701711540
Stolorow, R.D. (2015). Trauma and Human Existence. Reprinted ed. New York: Routledge. DOI: https://doi.org/10.4324/9780203837801
Westen, D. (1998). The scientific legacy of Sigmund Freud: Toward a psychodynamically informed psychological science. Psychological Bulletin. 124 (3): 333-371. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1037/0033-2909.124.3.333
