It has long been recognized that mammals are born immature and need to be cared for by parents, but it was not until more recently that the psychological system was discovered that enabled the caregiving to take place. This system is attachment. It is especially developed in humans. It is the means by which infants stay closely connected with their mothers or other caregivers, and by which caregivers nurture and protect infants from harm. In adulthood, attachment is a basis of our long-lasting sexual relationships, of our parenting and of our closer friendships. Attachment is at the centre of Love, Fear and Health: How Our Attachments to Others Shape Health and Health Care by Robert Maunder and Jonathan Hunter, who are faculty members of the Department of Psychiatry at the University of Toronto and who work as psychiatrists at Mount Sinai Hospital. The book is about health, and about how care in the healthcare system is also related to...
Keith Oatley is professor emeritus of cognitive psychology at the University of Toronto, a fellow of the Royal Society of Canada and winner of the 1994 Commonwealth Prize for Best First Novel. His most recent novel, Therefore Choose, was published in 2010 by Goose Lane. His recent books on Psychology include Such Stuff as Dreams: The Psychology of Fiction (Wiley 2011) and The Passionate Muse: Exploring Emotion in Stories (Oxford University Press 2012). He wishes to thank his colleagues Maja Djikic, Jacob Hirsch, Raymond Mar, Jennifer de la Paz, Jordan Peterson and Sara Zoeterman.
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