Attachment and Neurobiology: Preconception to Young Adulthood

Attachment and Neurobiology: Preconception to Young Adulthood introduces readers to interpersonal neurobiology and attachment to help them better understand how the brain develops across time and within a social context. The text equips social workers and mental health providers with the knowledge they need to optimize prevention and intervention efforts with clients. The book guides readers through a review of brain anatomy specific to social functioning, provides a summary of attachment theory and its effect on brain development and functioning, and explores how attachment and neurobiology influence behavior during the formative years between conception and young adulthood. Organized in three sections, the text examines the basic components of the brain; attachment theory, the neurological foundations of attachment, and how attachment is related to relational functioning and psychopathology; and finally, how brain development and attachment influence functioning from preconception to young adulthood. Throughout, case studies based on clinical experience and anecdotes from clinicians bridge the gap between theory and practice, and discussion questions encourage reflection and stimulate conversation. Enlightening and immensely valuable, Attachment and Neurobiology is an ideal resource for both students and practitioners of social work and mental health. E. Gail Horton, Ph.D. received her BSW from Florida Atlantic University and both her MSW and her Ph.D. in social welfare from Florida International University. She is a professor and the interim BSW program coordinator in the Phyllis and Harvey Sandler School of Social Work at Florida Atlantic University, where she teaches classes in human behavior. She has 25 years of practice experience as a licensed clinical social worker, and she is a qualified supervisor for graduates seeking licensure in the state. Dr. Horton's research interests include relationships between substance use problems and mood disorder with a particular interest in spirituality and attachment.