An Ethological Perspective

Hazan and Shaver apply Bowlby's attachment theory to key issues in the study of close relationshipsinitial formation, development, and maintenance of relationships; reactions to dissolution; influences on overall functioning; and individual and gender differences. They take the position that now is ample data to justify search for meaningful patterns and organizing principles to seek a comprehensive theory of close relationships. To pursue this, Hazan and Shaver rely heavily on the concept of an attachment behavior system. Yet, to my knowledge, there are no observational studies of attachment behavior and corresponding attachment behavior system in adults, as there are in and early childhood (e.g., Ainsworth, Blehar, Waters, & Wall, 1978; Bischof, 1975; Bretherton & Ainsworth, 1974; Greenberg & Marvin, 1982; K. E. Grossmann & K. Grossmann, 1991; Isabella & Belsky, 1991). To quote Mary Ainsworth (1991): Substantial progress has been made toward understanding what are the basic developmental processes relevant to attachment in infancy; now research is needed to find out what they are throughout later phases of development (p. 33) and Observational research outside the laboratory is essential in the study of attachments and other affectional bonds beyond infancy-as it was essential as first step in the study of attachments in infancy (p. 48). Thus, we still need to ask how adults express attachment behavior, how this behavior may be conceptualized as system, and how such system would interact with other systems. Following Bowlby's lead, we may frame these questions within Tinbergen's four why's of behavior.