Insecure Attachment Hypothesis

The three prototypes explored are avoidant, anxious-ambivalent, and secure attachments which describes how partners will behave in close relationships and how caring and supportive each individual is within their relationship. Avoidant attached individuals are withdrawn from relationships and untrustworthy of others. Anxious-Ambivalent individuals worry often about their partner’s needs being fulfilled as well as theirs and analyze if they’re moving too fast in the relationship when compared to their partner. Secured individuals are completely trustworthy of their partner and confident in their feelings and

Dr. Clare Buntrock, PhD.,LP and Catherine Phibbs, LICSW presenters of Understanding Personality Disorders through a Developmental Lens at the American Association for Psychoanalysis in Clinical Social Work (AAPCSW) conference, discussed aspects of secure attachment, insecure attachment and the impact caregivers have on the development of self (Catherine Phibbs & Clare Buntrock, 2017). Both Phibbs and Dr. Buntrock iterated the development of self, or personality, happens through relationships specifically, harmonious relationships support the development of mentalization (Catherine Phibbs & Clare Buntrock, 2017). Additionally, infant secure attachment and parent’s ability to provide safety for their children is impactful on mentalization and

Despite all the benefits of the three theories, they do have some limitations when addressing Andrew’s needs. For instance, attachment theory puts too much emphasis on the relationship between the mother and the chid, which unfortunately result in blame being put on the female caregiver (Coady & Lehmann, 2008). In Andrew’s case, the counsellor may focus too much on the relationship he had with his mother instead of also focusing on what kind of relationship he had with his father. One of the limitations for cognitive-behavioural theory regarding to treatment is that it may not be appropriate for clients with severe depressions or other sever problems (Coady & Lehmann, 2008). For Andrew’s case, if he was still taking his medications, he may

Study 1 found that, as hypothesized by the scientists, attachment anxiety is noticably associated with hesitancy in relationships. These affiliations could not be explained by general indecision, the subject’s opinions on the quality of the relationship, or fear of having their emotions invalidated. In Study 2, a similar analysis showed a notable effect of attachment anxiety on both conscious and subliminal aversion to emotional closeness. The findings expand on those found in study

Individual attachment style and its effects on adult romantic relationships were examined. The hypothesis of this literature review was that insecure attachment style would negatively affect the overall dynamic of adult romantic relationships while secure attachment would promote positive and healthy romantic relationships. Empirical studies looking at attachment style and relationship issues such as one’s views of self and others, communication, sexual intimacy, childhood family dynamic and God were evaluated. Reviews of studies were in line with the hypothesis indicating that insecure attachment does negatively affect the overall dynamic of romantic

The current literature review draws from a plethora of different sources that discuss attachment, and its implications toward future criminal behavior. Marshall, Hudson & Ward (1996) described the implications of secure or insecure attachment on future relationships, intimacy, and sexual deviancy. These researchers found a connection between insecure attachment, negative internal

Ciechanowski et. al. (2001) conducted a study aimed at gaining insight into patient and provider factors that lead to lack of treatment adherence in diabetic patients by applying the attachment theory model. The sample consisted of 367 patients suffering from type 1 and type 2 diabetes. The tools that were administered upon the sample assessed treatment adherence, patient-provider communication, illness severity, attachment style, and depression. To investigate whether patient provider communication and attachment style had a significant impact on treatment adherence, analyses of covariance were applied. It was found that the patients that exhibited the attachment style of dismissing attachment and reported patient-provider communication as

Three predominant styles of attachment, secure, insecure-anxious and insecure-avoidant reflect expectations about the reliability and availability of attachment figures (Hazan & Shaver, 1987). Individuals who portray secure attachment styles tend to value relationships that provide trust, comfort, and availability. In contrast, individuals with insecure-avoidant or insecure-anxious styles of attachment have difficulty recognizing, acknowledging, and/or valuing secure-based relationships. Avoidant individuals experience discomfort when becoming close with others. In contrast, insecure-anxious individuals report relationships as a threat,

Barnum, E. L, McGovern, K.M, conducted a study to examine the relationships between attachment security, childhood sexual trauma, sexual self-esteem, and subjective well-being. The researchers predicted that lower levels of secure attachment, higher presence of childhood sexual trauma while lower levels of sexual self-esteem contributed to lower levels of subjective well-being. In this study, there were 213 undergraduate students participated from Midwestern university. This study was based on the theories of attachment from Bowlby (1973) and well-being by Lent (2004). These theories gave the reseachers a framework to build the hypotheses for this study. In this past research, the researchers concluded that lower attachment security would be

those around him; his relationship with God would be a negative one, promoting a negative image of God.

“Insecure” attachment styles disrupt an individual’s ability to connect with others. These attachment styles have been categorized into three classifications: avoidant, ambivalent, and disorganized (Berger, 2014, p. pp. 190-194). My own relationships have been marred by my avoidant attachment style. An individual who relates in an insecure-avoidant manner will, as the name implies, tend to avoid close emotional connection or intimacy with others. Because significant individuals in their lives have hurt them, they mistrust others and withdraw emotionally in relationships. Generally viewing themselves positively and others negatively (Clinton & Sibcy, 2002, p. 24), they tend to be lonely, focusing their attention on success or other things to provide fulfillment, which usually leaves them feeling empty.

Attachment theory is accepted by most psychologists and psychiatrists as the best explanation for how we develop the capacity to form relationships with others and relate to our environment. It asserts that the methods we use to relate to others, manage our needs, express our demands, and shape our expectations for the world are rooted in our relationships with our early caregivers. Through these interactions we learn to balance our feelings and need states with others and to establish our varying degrees of independence, dependence, power, and control. Attachment also impacts self-esteem through the experience of conflict with caregivers.

Investigators conducted a series of experiments to investigate the relationship between insecure attachment styles, and depression. Several factors are correlated with depression and dependency which states that “thoughts, emotions, and behavioral characteristics related to the need to communicate with and depend on others (Hirschfeld et al., 1977). The role attachment style and depression are investigated and it is hypothesized that insecure attachments strongly correlate with depression rather than securely attached individuals which do not.

Attachment theory emphasizes the importance of parent’s capability to offer a secure base for their children to discover the world ( Kottler & Shepard 2015). My own attachment style is a secure attachment style; secure attachment style refers to the idea that infants who couldn’t count on their mother being consistently available would cry when their mother left their sight but quickly calm down when their mother came back and pick them up ( Kottler & Shepard 2015).

Attachment is seen as universal, but it does not take account for different cultures, which can lead to different types of child rearing. Also with that idea, attachment theory focuses mostly on maternal bond with the infant. Some families all around the world can have a different caregiver than the traditional western society. Grandparents can help raise a child due to both parents working or the father can rear a child due to divorce or death of a mother. Anyone who takes care of a child’s needs could develop a strong bond with the child.