Gordon Neufeld

Gordon Neufeld (born 1946) is a developmental psychologist from Vancouver, British Columbia, with more than 50 years of clinical experience working with children, youth, and caregivers. He completed his undergraduate degree from the University of Winnipeg during the 1970s and earned graduate degrees from the University of British Columbia, where he subsequently taught psychology for 20 years. Neufeld later transitioned from university teaching and private practice to focus on developing educational courses for parents, teachers, and helping professionals.

Neufeld's most significant contributions to developmental psychology include a comprehensive theory of attachment outlining six stages in the development of relational capacity, and the construct of polarization explaining both shyness and defensive detachment. His groundbreaking theories on aggression, counterwill, bullying, and anxiety have gained national and international recognition. He is the co-author of Hold On to Your Kids: Why Parents Need to Matter More Than Peers with Canadian physician Gabor Maté.

In pursuit of broader impact, Neufeld founded the Neufeld Institute in Vancouver, an educational organization dedicated to training parents and professionals based on his developmental theories.