A qualitative analysis of John Bowlby’s last interview

John Bowlby gave his final interview on attachment theory over twenty five years ago to psychoanalyst Virginia Hunter, just a few months before his death. A qualitative analysis, specifically an inductive thematic analysis, has been applied to Bowlby’s last interview so as to gain some insight in a systematic and rigorous manner as to what the main issues in attachment theory were for Bowlby at that stage of his life and career. A main theme ‘Real Life Events’ emerged, comprised of three subthemes ‘Dismissal,’ ‘Recognition,’ and ‘Supporting Patients;’ each of these findings are discussed in turn. Although attachment theory has developed enormously over the past twenty five years since Bowlby’s death, his main concern on the significance of real life events remains salient; Bowlby’s legacy continues to live on strongly.

This is an Accepted Manuscript of an article published by Phoenix Publishing House in Attachment: New Directions in Psychotherapy and Relational Psychoanalysis, available online: https://www.ingentaconnect.com/content/phoenix/att/2015/00000009/000... The accepted manuscript is reproduced here with permission.

Please cite published article as: Rodriguez, Deborah (2015) A qualitative analysis of John Bowlby’s last interview. Attachment: New Directions in Psychotherapy and Relational Psychoanalysis, 9 (2) . pp. 158-164.