Search results for "Attachment Theory"
showing 10 items of 53 documents
Adult attachment and gene polymorphisms of the dopamine D4 receptor and serotonin transporter (5-HTT).
2010
Recently, the Dopamine D4 Receptor Gene (DRD4) and the Serotonin Transporter Gene (5-HTT) have been found to be candidate genes for infant attachment disorganization. The present study aimed to explore the relationship of these genes to adult attachment representations. The Adult Attachment Interview was used to assess attachment representations in 167 German adults. DNA from buccal cells was genotyped for the DRD4 VNTR Exon III and 5-HTT LPR polymorphisms with respect to the presence of the 7repeat allele and the short allele, respectively. DRD4 7repeat allele carriers were significantly more likely to be securely attached than those without 7repeat but only for subjects with unloving care…
The Relationship Between Attachment and Psychopathy: A Study with a Sample of Violent Offenders
2014
This study used a mixed quantitative-qualitative methodology to investigate the relationship between attachment and psychopathy. The Psychopathy Checklist- Revised (PCL-R; Hare 2003) was administered to 139 Italian offenders who were convicted of violent crimes (murder, rape, child sexual abuse, armed robbery, assault causing bodily harm). First, we explored whether the two PCL-R items theoretically denoting devaluation of attachment bonds (promiscuous sexual behavior and many marital relationships) were able to predict PCL-R total, factor and facet scores. Subse- quently, we analyzed the transcripts of the 10 participants who obtained the highest PCL-R scores in the sample, assessing their…
Das Adult Attachment Interview - Grundlagen, Anwendung und Einsatzmöglichkeiten im klinischen Alltag
2013
The present paper looks at the potential of the Adult Attachment Interview (AAI) and its underlying basis in attachment theory for use in psychotherapeutic work. We summarize the basic tenets of attachment theory, detail the content and structure of the AAI, provide instructions for conducting the AAI, and introduce the Main et al. (2002) coding system. We then report on associations between AAI-Attachment groups and psychosomatic diseases and, finally, demonstrate applications of the AAI in clinical work and research.
Anxious and status signaling: Examining the link between attachment style and status consumption and the mediating role of materialistic values
2021
Attachment theory has recently been recognized as a potentially fruitful avenue for studying consumer behavior. However, few studies have examined the relationship between attachment styles and consumer preferences. Based on literature suggesting that individuals with an anxious attachment style have a particularly strong need for attention, we conducted two studies with a total sample of over 2,000 participants, which tested and found that anxiously attached consumers displayed a higher propensity to purchase status-signaling goods than their counterparts with secure attachment styles. This effect was mediated by materialistic values, such that participants with an anxious attachment style…
Secure and sustainable but not as prominent among the ambivalent: Attachment style and proenvironmental consumption
2021
Abstract Human activity has degraded the environment and contributed to numerous public health hazards. Thus, the United Nations recently made an urgent call to develop sustainable consumption practices. Although existing literature has acknowledged attachment style as a potential predictor of certain consumption responses, its influence on proenvironmental consumption has not yet been examined. We conducted a large-sampled study (N = 1397) on this topic and found securely attached individuals to report significantly higher scores on a scale measuring proenvironmental consumption compared to people with anxious/ambivalent and avoidant attachment styles, respectively. The latter two groups d…
Patterns and universals of adult romantic attachment across 62 cultural regions: Are models of self and of other pancultural constructs?
2004
As part of the International Sexuality Description Project, a total of 17,804 participants from 62 cultural regions completed the Relationship Questionnaire (RQ), a self-report measure of adult romantic attachment. Correlational analyses within each culture suggested that the Model of Self and the Model of Other scales of the RQ were psychometrically valid within most cultures. Contrary to expectations, the Model of Self and Model of Other dimensions of the RQ did not underlie the four-category model of attachment in the same way across all cultures. Analyses of specific attachment styles revealed that secure romantic attachment was normative in 79% of cultures and that preoccupied romantic…
Coping With Relationship Stressors: A Decade Review
2011
This review identifies key issues in research on adolescent coping with stress with parents, friends, and romantic partners during the past decade. An analysis of 78 studies revealed findings on relationship stressors and the potential links between the use of different coping styles for different relationship types. Research has confirmed consistent gender differences in dealing with relationship stress and shown how individual factors (e.g., personality factors and attachment style) contribute to variations in stress perception and coping styles. Implications for prevention and intervention are identified and suggestions are made for future research, particularly with respect to complex a…
Empirically-derived subgroups of Facebook users and their association with personality characteristics: a Latent Class Analysis
2018
Abstract In recent years, considerable research effort has been directed at the identification of relationships between psychological variables and Facebook usage indicators. However, the identification of homogeneous subgroups of individuals based on similar Facebook usage characteristics still presents a challenge. This study aims: (1) to empirically determine homogeneous groups of Facebook users based on variables regarding their personal experience on Facebook, by using a Latent Class Analysis; and (2) to examine the association between an individual's personality and interpersonal characteristics and the empirically-derived profiles of Facebook usage. Eight hundred and eleven Facebook …
La strutturazione del legame di attaccamento in minori esposti a violenza domestica
2017
The construction of an attachment bond in children exposed to domestic violence. The structuring of the attachment bond may be influenced by specific characteristics related to individuals and context. The aim of this study was to evaluate the quality of attachment in a family unit composed of one mother and four children, who were living in a Safe House for victims fleeing from domestic violence. Attachment was evaluated in the mother through administration of the Adult Attachment Interview (George, Kaplan, & Main, 1985) and in the children through administration of the Separation Anxiety Test (Attili, 2001). Results highlighted an insecure attachment in the mother and in the youngest chil…
Psychophysiological effects of oxytocin on parent-child interactions: A literature review on oxytocin and parent-child interactions
2017
Oxytocin (OT), often called the “hormone of love” or “hormone of attachment”, plays a fundamental role in the establishment and quality of parent-infant bonding. However, emerging evidence indicates that OT can also produce antisocial behavior. To clarify these effects, we review studies examining the role of endogenous and exogenous OT on several determinants of attachment: parental sensitivity, and bonding or synchrony in parent–child dyads. Contextual and individual factors moderating the effect of intranasal OT (INOT) and its peripheral levels are also reviewed. Finally, potential therapeutic applications for OT and current limitations in human OT research are examined. This systematic …