Attachment Theory for Social Work Practice by David Howe

by David Howe

The quality of early social relationships has a deep bearing on our psychological and social development; adversity in childhood can lead to adult relationships that may be difficult and distressing. This book addresses the needs of social workers in understanding and assessing the nature and origins of such disturbed social relationships. Taking a comprehensive and wide-ranging look at the theories emerging in and around attachment theory, it provides a sophisticated but accessible base from which social workers can make sensitive assessments and develop humane practices.

Genres: Social Work

Paperback Bunko

First published July 5, 1995

Reviews

[Mir Bal · Rating 3 out of 5]

Ever since Mary Ainsworth and John Bowlby founded modern attachment theory, it has operated as a link between the classical psychodynamic and psychoanalytic theories that came to differ more and more from a classical scientific discourse and the more clinical psychology and neurobiology. This is undoubtedly what has made this theory occupy an increasing and larger part in the clinically social and psychological professions. The link between a therapeutic interpretation and a scientific knowledge makes this explanatory model indispensable for all clinicians.

This is where social work comes in, because the social work as well as research fields and discipline are relatively young, the field's attitude to theories and methods has become somewhat eclectic. Ainsworth and Bowlbys are unusually suited to this very field. In comes David Howe. The purpose of his book is to present attachment theory and its applicability to social work. He also intends to argue why the theory has a natural and obvious place in social work.

Although the preface to Howe's book is embarrassingly simplistic (he argues that it is important to understand people and their relationships), the book gains momentum once it has started. He adequately presents attachment theory and its history. Maybe a little too much focus on the original theory and a little on the later development, but it is not something the book suffers from. In general, the reader gets a thorough review of what attachment theory is. The only thing that distinguishes the book in this respect is the structure. Howe takes his starting point in mentalization and not in the close physical or emotional ties. Something that in a pedagogical way puts the theory in a different light.

When the time comes to arguing for why attachment theory should be at home in social work, nothing new is added. Howe states that a social worker needs to be able to understand a person's attachment pattern in order to be able to respond to his psychological problems in an adequate way. Nothing new here. It goes without saying.

The book is weakest is in the application. Because even though the title claims that the book has to do with social work, only a few chapters at the end are suitable for social work. And that is the book's biggest weakness. It is short, neither historical nor particularly concrete. But does not add any further depth theoretically.

This leaves the book as a well-structured and pedagogical introduction to attachment theory. but nothing more. Above all nothing more about social work.