The Adult Attachment Interview: Reflections on the Strength and the Limitations of Mary Main’s Measure

Mary Main made unmatched contributions to the field of attachment. In celebrating her life, this paper reflects upon her measures; specifically on the Adult Attachment Interview (AAI), her signature instrument. Because the AAI is well-known for the extensive time and skill required to utilize it, it is a wonder why AAI research continues to be proliferate favored. The most recent meta-analysis reported that more than 25,000 AAIs have been conducted world-wide in the last four decades, and notably more AAI studies were reported in the latter half of this period. This paper explores the unique attraction to the AAI and also highlights apparent challenges associated with the AAI. Articulating the strength and limitations of the AAI is critically important in ascertaining longevity of the AAI and Mary Main’s legacy.