Separation and divergence: the untold story of James Robertson's and John Bowlby's theoretical dispute on mother-child separation.
The work of Robertson and Bowlby is generally seen as complementary, Robertson being the practically oriented observer and Bowlby focusing on theoretical explanations for Robertson's observations. The authors add to this picture an "untold story" of the collaboration between Robertson and Bowlby: the dispute between the two men that arose in the 1960s about the corollaries of separation and the ensuing personal animosity. On the basis of unique archival materials, this until now little known aspect of the history of attachment theory is extensively documented. The deteriorating relationship between Robertson and Bowlby is described against the background of different currents in psychoanalysis in Britain in the interbellum.
van der Horst
Frank C P
FC
Centre for Child and Family Studies, Leiden University, The Netherlands.
van der Veer
René
R
D002648:Child; D034462:Dissent and Disputes / Q000266:history*; D005260:Female; D049673:History, 20th Century; D006776:Hospitals, Pediatric / Q000266:history; D006801:Humans; D007400:Interprofessional Relations; D008426:Maternal Deprivation; D009034:Mother-Child Relations; D009769:Object Attachment; D011572:Psychoanalysis / Q000266:history*; D002666:Psychology, Child / Q000266:history; D014481:United States