Bridging the fields of culture and attachment, this book illuminates the relationship between them in two ways: It examines attachment from the perspective of culture, and then evaluates two different cultures (Anglo and Puerto Rican) from the vantage point of mothers' perceptions of attachment behavior. In so doing, the volume delineates coherent conceptual frameworks that can be used to guide research and to help interpret the results of cross-cultural attachment studies.

Designed to sharpen our understanding of the ways in which attachment is both universal and culturally shaped, this volume will enhance the work of scholars investigating basic processes of culture and human development, mental health professionals searching for alternative heuristic frameworks, and professionals involved in formulating policy regarding the social and emotional health of children. It also provides valuable information about the rapidly growing, yet understudied, Puerto Rican culture.