Attachment and Adult Romantic Relationships: An Interview with M. Carole Pistole

Abstract

Dr. M. Carole Pistole is an associate professor in the Department of Educational Studies at Purdue University. She is regarded as a leading researcher in adult attachment theory. In addition to chapters and editorials, she has published more than 25 refereed journal articles. Dr. Pistole’s adult attachment theory work incorporates two complementary bonding systems: attachment and caregiving. The knowledge gained from Dr. Pistole’s testing of theory has increased confidence in the basic tenets of attachment theory and contributed to understanding how people can better conduct or, when necessary, end their central emotional relationships. Her work includes theory development, particularly with regard to counseling practice. She has incorporated theoretical and measurement developments into her work, as reflected in using the four-category model of attachment and a multi-item attachment measure that permits more sophisticated statistical analyses. For more information on attachment and Dr. Pistole’s research efforts, readers are encouraged to visit her Web site at http://www.edst.purdue.edu/pistole/. The following interview was conducted in August 2003 via conference call.