2003 Awardees

Robert A. Hinde A Secure Base To John Bowlby, Advocate And Friend To The Bowlby-Ainsworth Tradition

Renowned for his breadth of knowledge and rigorous analyses of animal behavior and motivation, Robert Hinde played an important role in John Bowlby’s thinking about the place of evolution, behavior, and naturalistic observation in Attachment Theory.

Theoretical explorations need loyal advocates and thoughtful critics. Robert Hinde served effectively in these dual roles – both before and after Attachment Theory was well established. His support and friendship to Mary Ainsworth were constant throughout her career, extending also to the generations of her students. Through these contributions, Robert Hinde helped knit together the Bowlby-Ainsworth tradition.

James and Joyce Robertson For Documenting And Improving The Lives Of Young Children In Difficult Circumstances

Every good theory begins with and preserves key descriptive insights. One of the pivotal steps toward modern Attachment Theory was recognizing the complexity of social and emotional life in infancy and early childhood. Patient, understanding, and genuinely caring about young children in difficult circumstances, James and Joyce Robertson entered their lives and captured on film the key phenomena of attachment and loss at the most vulnerable stages of life. Persuasive beyond words, their documentary studies removed obstacles to a new perspective and improved children’s lives. They remain powerful expressions of the content and the importance of Attachment Theory.

More