鈥淲e don鈥檛 electric shock children. Even I wouldn鈥檛 do that,鈥� Coan reassured the audience, with an infectious laugh.

At , Coan delivered a .鈥� That presentation was published as a chapter in the conference book, (Cascade Books, 2013).

On March 10, 2014, Coan brought his chock-a-block Powerpoint slides back to 91短视频 for another entertaining, anecdote-filled lecture about his neuroscience research on how simply holding a loved one’s hand can regulate stress in threatening situations.

Research shows calming effect of companionship

In his lab, Coan shows subjects threat cues on a screen that indicate a one-in-five chance of receiving a small electric shock to the ankle. Using an MRI scanner and cutting-edge brain-mapping tools, he and his colleagues observe blood flow through various regions of their brains when exposed to this threat of pain.

These threat cues and shocks are administered under three conditions: with the subjects alone, while holding the hands of strangers and while holding their spouses鈥� hands.

Coan and his team of researchers found that holding a loved one鈥檚 hand during stressful and threatening situations causes a big decrease in the response to threat when compared to being alone or holding a stranger鈥檚 hand.

In cases when their subjects, reassured by a spouse鈥檚 presence, showed a decreased threat response, Coan and other neuroscientists expected an alternate sector of the brain to 鈥渓ight up.鈥� Curiously, however, they found that no other area of the brain was doing this. This suggests, Coan says, that an expected function of the test subject鈥檚 brain was being 鈥渙utsourced鈥� to another person.

鈥淚n traditional psychology, we see the individual 鈥� the single person 鈥� as our unit of analysis. But what if that isn鈥檛 the case?鈥� asks Coan. Accordingly, he and his fellow researchers have proposed an alternative perspective, which they call 鈥渟ocial-baseline theory.鈥�

Interdependence as a survival strategy

Humans are not designed to efficiently solve problems alone, Coan continues. 鈥淲e are designed to be interdependent, always and constantly to be placed in a social frame,鈥� he says. Alone, we have to devote more of our brain鈥檚 resources to solving problems and responding to threats. 鈥淚f you are by yourself, the world is a more daunting place.鈥�

He saved the 鈥渨eirdest鈥� (his descriptor) bit for last as he postulated what folks from the world鈥檚 religious traditions will readily affirm: The 鈥渟elf鈥� is extendable and dynamic, distributed and malleable, and most at home when connected to a healthy community.

The significance of Coan鈥檚 research, says , professor of , is its suggestion that life 鈥渋s much less daunting 鈥� in a community in which you can trust that people are there for you in a moment of need.鈥� The bright side of community in the Anabaptist tradition 鈥� 鈥渟ending help to a far corner of the world or a sign-up list for bringing meals to someone who has fallen sick鈥� 鈥� is, however, not the complete picture.

Early points to 鈥渢he shadow-side of community: betrayal, conflict and histories of abuse. If we want to take seriously our mission to bring healing to the world, we will need to accept that that includes the inner world as well.鈥�

Coan鈥檚 work has been featured in the New York Times, Time, BBC News, Discovery Channel and other major media outlets, and his groundbreaking research with John Gottman appeared in Malcolm Gladwell鈥檚 bestseller Blink. He also has about . (Interestingly, his first paper describing the hand-holding research was rejected by six journals prior to its 2006 publication.)

His visit was co-sponsored by Shenandoah Anabaptist Science Society and 91短视频鈥檚 .

So say the organizers of an “attachment conference” to be led by experts from across North America gathering at 91短视频 in the spring of 2011.

Conference is first of its kind

, PhD, director of

, PhD, 91短视频 associate professor of

, PhD, 91短视频 associate professor of

“Conversations on Attachment: Integrating the Science of Love and Spirituality,” a first of its kind, will bring together five internationally-recognized experts from a variety of disciplines to apply key insights from attachment theory to current research and practice.

The conference will be held March 31-April 1, 2011 and is open to the public.

“We hope hundreds of people will join us for three days of life-changing conversation that is sure to change how you see yourself, your relationships and the larger world,” says , PhD, director of , one of the conference sponsors.

Necessity of attachment in life

Program planner , PhD, 91短视频 associate professor of , believes this conference “is sorely needed as well as timely.”

Recent neuroscience demonstrates that “healthy attachments, particularly people-to-people connections, are crucial for society to survive and flourish,” says Kishbaugh.

“One of our most important tasks is to learn how to form healthy attachments – with each other, with the earth and with God.”

, PhD, associate professor of , first had the idea for 91短视频 to host such a conference.

“Attachment theory gives us a specific handle on the development of our sense of self, the dynamics of love, and the hope for repair after rupture,” he notes.

“This conference provides an open space – stretching from neuroscience to spirituality – to talk about what it means to be human.”

Attachment Conference Speakers

Confirmed conference speakers include highly sought after experts who are bestselling authors in their fields. They include:

Sue Johnson, EdD

Sue Johnson, EdD: Professor of clinical psychology at The University of Ottawa, director of the Ottawa Couple and Family Institute Inc., and the International Center for Excellence in Emotionally Focused Therapy. Dr. Johnson has published numerous books, chapters and articles in the field of relationships and therapy. Her most recent book is written for the general public and is entitled “Hold Me Tight – Seven Conversations for a Lifetime of Love.”

James Coan, PhD

James Coan, PhD: Assistant professor of psychology, member of the Neuroscience Graduate Program and director of the Virginia Affective Neuroscience Laboratory at the University of Virginia, co-editor of Handbook of Emotion Elicitation and Assessment

Daniel J. Siegel, MD

Daniel J. Siegel, MD: Clinical professor of psychiatry, UCLA’s Center for Culture, Brain, and Development; co-director, Mindful Awareness Research Center and co-author of the bestseller, “Parenting from the Inside Out: How a Deeper Self-Understanding Can Help You Raise Children Who Thrive.”

John Paul Lederach, PhD

John Paul Lederach, PhD: Professor of international peacebuilding at the Kroc Institute for International Peace Studies, University of Notre Dame and author of numerous books, including “The Moral Imagination: The Art and Soul of Building Peace.”

Nancey Murphy, PhD

Nancey Murphy, PhD: Professor of Christian philosophy at Fuller Theological Seminary, Pasadena, Calif., and author of “Bodies and Souls, or Spirited Bodies?”

Pre-conference training with Sue Johnson

A will be offered March 31 by the originator of Emotion Focused Therapy, Dr. Susan Johnson, EdD. Dr. Johnson’s 2004 book (2nd Ed).

The Practice of Emotionally Focused Couples Therapy: Creating Connection is the basic text on this form of therapy and her more popular book Hold Me Tight: Seven Conversations for a Lifetime of Love is used for enrichment and insight into the dance of attachment.

The training is open to mental health professionals, pastors and interested community members who want a formal introduction to Emotion Focused Therapy by the originator of this approach.

It runs from 8:30 a.m. to 4 p.m. in Martin Chapel of Eastern Mennonite Seminary.

Signature sponsorship

is the signature sponsor for the event. 91短视频 is grateful for the collaboration with this local partner. Learn more…

Conference schedule and costs

More information about the conference schedule and costs, as well as online registration and blog postings by presenters, is available at .

Inquiries can also be sent to conference coordinator Cheryl Doss at聽attachment@emu.edu or phone 540-432-4400.

Supporters who made the conference possible

The conference is funded by a grant from Metanexus Global Network Initiative to the Shenandoah Anabaptist Science Society (SASS).

SASS is an inter-disciplinary, area-wide organization which creates space for dialogue and promotes education on issues at the intersection of science and religion.

SASS () is housed at 91短视频 and open to all interested persons.