Attachment between an infant and his or her parents is a major topic within developmental psychology. An increasing number of psychologists, evolutionary biologists and anthropologists are articulating their doubts that attachment theory in its present form is applicable worldwide, without, however, denying that the development of attachment is a universal need. This book brings together leading scholars from psychology, anthropology and related fields to reformulate attachment theory in order to fit the cultural realities of our world. Contributions are based on empirical research and observation in a variety of cultural contexts. They are complemented by careful evaluation and deconstruction of many of the underlying premises and assumptions of attachment theory and of conventional research on the role of infant-parent attachment in human development. The book creates a contextual cultural understanding of attachment that will provide the basis for a groundbreaking reconceptualization of attachment theory.

'A much-needed collection of evolutionary, anthropological and psychological accounts of early relationship formation from the majority world which differ from the classical Bowlby–Ainsworth attachment theory. It opens up a new agenda for research regarding early socio-emotional development.' Cigdem Kagitcibasi, Koç University, Istanbul
'Dazzling in the range of cultural behaviors that relate to infant attachment and social development. The most serious attempt yet to integrate evolutionary adaptation, developmental universals, and cultural variation in attachment and caregiving behaviors.' Patricia M. Greenfield, Distinguished Professor of Psychology, University of California, Los Angeles

Hiltrud Otto is a postdoctoral fellow of the Martin Buber Society of the Humanities at the Hebrew University of Jerusalem, Israel. Heidi Keller is Professor of Culture and Development in the Faculty of Human Sciences at the University of Osnabrück.