Crittenden's Dynamic-Maturational Model of Attachment and Adaptation

This article undertakes a systematic exposition and analysis of Patricia Crittenden's dynamic-maturational model of attachment and adaptation. It traces Crittenden's information-processing model of attachment behavior to her work with Mary Ainsworth, and shows how this account came to underpin her integration of insights from cognitive science with developmental psychology. The article draws surprising conclusions regarding the differences between the dynamic-maturational model and mainstream attachment theory, clarifying the meaning of contested concepts and identifying important flaws in previous interpretations of Crittenden's work.}