Intimate partner violence: An application of attachment theory

Attachment theory has gained increased prominence over the past several decades in the fields of psychiatry, psychology, and social work. Attachment theory, however, has not been systematically applied to intimate partner violence (IPV), a phenomenon that disproportionately affects women in poverty. This article provides an overview of IPV as a social problem, reviews existing literature related to the application of attachment theory to IPV, discusses the theory's strengths and limitations in understanding and resolving IPV, and considers areas for future knowledge development.