Perceptions of Sex Offenders’ Partners: Associated with Perceptions of Offenders and Influenced by Attachment

2020 ◽  
Vol 11 ◽  
Author(s):  
Jason P. Martens ◽  
Jessica L. Stewart
Keyword(s):  
Sex Offenders ◽  
Attachment Theory ◽  
Sexual Offenders ◽  
Attachment Styles ◽  
Attachment Anxiety ◽  
Attachment Avoidance ◽  
Negative Perceptions ◽  
Highly Correlated

Abstract Little research exists on how partners of sex offenders are perceived. Using attachment theory, we hypothesised that one's attachment would generalise to perceptions of sexual offenders and their partners. One hundred and six British adults’ attachment styles were assessed, as well as perceptions of sex offenders and their partners. Generally, perceivers’ attachment avoidance was associated with positive perceptions of both partners and offenders, while attachment anxiety was associated with negative perceptions of partners but positive perceptions of sex offenders. Perceptions of sex offenders and their partners were highly correlated and negative in nature, and sex offenders were more negatively perceived.

Accessibility of the Mental Representation of Attachment Figures in Patients With Anxiety and Depressive Symptoms

2018 ◽  
Vol 37 (8) ◽  
pp. 607-627 ◽  
Author(s):  
Annemiek Karreman ◽  
Nathan Bachrach ◽  
Charlotte M. M. H. Robeers ◽  
Marrie H. J. Bekker
Keyword(s):  
Depressive Symptoms ◽  
Attachment Theory ◽  
Trait Anxiety ◽  
Mental Representation ◽  
Attachment Styles ◽  
Attachment Anxiety ◽  
Attachment Avoidance ◽  
Attachment Figure ◽  
Clinically Depressed ◽  
Innate Behaviors

According to attachment theory, different attachment styles relate to individuals' innate behaviors aimed at establishing proximity to or distancing oneself from attachment figures when confronted with threat. Unclear is whether these attachment-related threat responses also pertain to clinically depressed or anxious individuals. We therefore examined attachment-related patterns of accessibility of attachment figure representations under threat in 60 patients with anxiety and depressive symptoms (aged 16–58; primary diagnoses: an anxiety disorder, mood disorder, or personality disorder), applying an experimental Stroop procedure. Participants, randomly assigned to one of three priming conditions (neutral, attachment-unrelated threatening, attachment-related threatening prime), were exposed to a person's name preceded by a subliminal prime. Self-reported attachment styles, trait anxiety, and depressive symptoms were measured. Participants with higher scores on attachment avoidance showed reduced accessibility of persons in a neutral context and in response to attachment-unrelated threat, but not in response to attachment-related threat. These effects were independent of trait anxiety and depressive symptoms. Attachment anxiety was not associated with accessibility of persons. These results indicate that the mechanism of attachment-related responses to threat might not pertain to patients with anxiety and depressive symptoms, possibly due to collapse under their chronic strain.

Effect of Attachment Style on Selective Attention in Panic Disorder

2020 ◽  
Vol 39 (6) ◽  
pp. 523-560
Author(s):  
Ottilia Klipsch ◽  
Henning Schauenburg ◽  
Christoph Nikendei ◽  
Cord Benecke ◽  
Ulrike Dinger
Keyword(s):  
Panic Disorder ◽  
Attentional Bias ◽  
Attachment Style ◽  
Attachment Styles ◽  
Reaction Times ◽  
Attachment Anxiety ◽  
Control Group ◽  
Attachment Avoidance ◽  
Moderation Effect ◽  
Interpersonal Threat

Introduction: Given the heterogeneity of results in the attentional bias to threatening information in patients with panic disorder, we investigated the attentional bias toward threat and the moderating effect of attachment styles in a female-only sample of panic patients and a nonclinical control group. Methods: Female panic patients (n = 47) were compared to a female control group (n = 47) using a modified Dot Probe Task with body-related and interpersonal threat as well as attachment positive words. Results: An attentional bias toward threat words was not replicated. Furthermore, there was no moderation effect on attentional bias by attachment styles. However, high attachment avoidance was associated with faster reaction times (RT) in attachment positive compared to attachment threat trials in both groups. In the patient group, attachment anxiety was associated with faster RT in panic threat trials compared to attachment positive trials. Anxiously attached controls reacted faster to attachment positive vs. attachment threat trials. Discussion: No attentional bias was found in the present study. However, the findings suggest that attachment avoidance and attachment anxiety differently influence attention responses to trials that include different emotional stimuli in clinical and nonclinical, female participants. Attachment insecurity may modify attention when processing trials including both, threat and positive stimuli.

scholarly journals Reliability Analysis of an Instrument: A Preliminary Study of Experience in Close Relationship Scale (ECR) among Counsellor Trainees in a University

2020 ◽  
Vol 6 (1) ◽  
pp. 81-87
Author(s):  
Anis Nurshafiqah Azhar ◽  
Nor Mazlina Ghazali
Keyword(s):  
Reliability Analysis ◽  
Internal Consistency ◽  
Attachment Styles ◽  
Public Universities ◽  
High Reliability ◽  
Internal Consistency Reliability ◽  
Attachment Anxiety ◽  
Attachment Avoidance ◽  
Close Relationship ◽  
Preliminary Study

The study aims to evaluate the reliability and internal consistency of Experience in Close Relationship among counsellor trainees in one of the local universities. The questionnaire had 36 items that were tested on 58 students from Bachelor of Counselling with Honours program. The Experience in Close Relationship Scale (ECR) is used to assess attachment styles. The ECR assesses individual on two sub-scale of attachment which are attachment avoidance and attachment anxiety. This study presented listed items and internal consistency reliability analysis of Experience in Close Relationship Scale (ECR) in Malaysian context. The explanation on the items and reliability analysis represents the appropriateness of the instrument to trainee counsellors from public universities. The two sub-scale showed high reliability analysis. The reliability values of two sub-scale are reported respectively as following (i) attachment anxiety α = .86; and (ii) attachment avoidance α = .93. The instrument is reliable for assessing the attachment styles towards counsellor trainees at public universities. Therefore, the results from the pilot study showed that the questionnaire can be used without any modification in the actual study. Keywords: Reliability; Experience in Close Relationship Scale; Counsellor Trainees; Preliminary study

A Study Evaluating Mindfulness and Naikan-Based Therapy: AEON-HO for Attachment Style, Self-Actualization, and Depression

2018 ◽  
Vol 123 (2) ◽  
pp. 239-251
Author(s):  
Chieko Fujisaki
Keyword(s):  
Attachment Style ◽  
Attachment Styles ◽  
Depression Scale ◽  
Epidemiologic Studies ◽  
Attachment Anxiety ◽  
Depressive State ◽  
Attachment Avoidance ◽  
High Affinity ◽  
Before And After ◽  
Self Actualization

AEON-HO (Altering emotional organization-holistic operation) contains methods of Naikan therapy and mindfulness. Naikan and mindfulness are originally from Buddhism tradition, and they have a high affinity. AEON-HO was conceptualized to improve attachment issues and the growth of self-actualization, because Naikan and mindfulness are known to be effective for attachment issues but partially if they are used independently. Naikan can approach to attachment avoidance, while mindfulness can approach to attachment anxiety. The primary purpose of this study was to assess the effectiveness of AEON-HO on attachment styles, self-actualization, and depression by using “attachment style scale the Experiences in Close Relationships inventory–the generalized–other–version (ECR-GO),” “self-actualization scale” translated to Japanese, and “center for epidemiologic studies for depression scale.” Participants have taken these three psychological questionnaires before and after the eight-week program of AEON-HO, and the results of scales were compared. Participants were 36 adults with a mean age of 49 years ( SD = 3.9). Changes in two attachment styles, anxiety and avoidance and depressive state, were observed between pre- and posttest, while there were no significant changes in self-actualization. However, attachment anxiety and self-actualization were correlated negatively in pre- and posttest, while attachment avoidance and self-actualization were correlated negatively only in pretest.

Interrelations between Attachment Styles, Emotional Contagion and Loneliness

2020 ◽  
pp. 0192513X2096601
Author(s):  
Dominik Borawski ◽  
Tomasz Wajs ◽  
Konstancja Sojka ◽  
Urszula Misztal
Keyword(s):  
Attachment Styles ◽  
Close Relationships ◽  
Parental Attachment ◽  
Negative Emotions ◽  
Emotional Contagion ◽  
Attachment Anxiety ◽  
Attachment Avoidance ◽  
Loneliness Scale ◽  
The Relationship ◽  
Negative Predictor

The main purpose of this study was to examine the roles of parental attachment styles and emotional contagion in predicting the level of loneliness. Based on the theoretical and empirical premises, we have decided to investigate whether emotional contagion can be associated with loneliness, when the attachment styles are controlled for, and whether emotional contagion can function as a mediator in the relationship between attachment avoidance and loneliness. The Revised UCLA Loneliness Scale, the Experiences in Close Relationships Scale, and the Emotional Contagion Scale were applied to the research. In our results, attachment anxiety and attachment avoidance were demonstrated to be positive predictors, while positive emotional contagion was shown to be a negative predictor of loneliness. Moreover, our data revealed that catching the positive (but not negative) emotions of others was a mediator in the relationship between attachment avoidance and loneliness.

Attachment and Emotion Transmission Within Romantic Relationships: Merging Intrapersonal and Interpersonal Perspectives

2013 ◽  
Vol 4 ◽  
Author(s):  
Ashley K. Randall ◽  
Emily A. Butler
Keyword(s):  
Emotion Regulation ◽  
Individual Differences ◽  
Attachment Styles ◽  
Emotional Functioning ◽  
Emotional Experience ◽  
Attachment Anxiety ◽  
Emotion Regulation Strategies ◽  
Attachment Avoidance ◽  
Daily Diaries ◽  
Regulation Strategies

The attachment system is responsible for emotional-motivational bonding with others and is associated with individual emotion regulation strategies (avoidance-disengagement; anxiety-hypervigilance); however, little is known how these individual differences in emotion regulation strategies influence partners’ interpersonal emotional experiences. Prior research examining the link between individual differences in attachment avoidance and anxiety and emotional connectedness in couples has interestingly shown counter-intuitive effects of individual attachment styles on couples’ shared emotions, such that attachment anxiety was associated with the lowest levels of emotional synchrony (Butner, Diamond, & Hicks, 2007). These results beg for additional research on whether and how individual differences in attachment styles moderate the transmission of emotion between partners. Using daily diaries and second-by-second measures of emotional experience from 30 couples, it was hypothesised that couples high in attachment avoidance (disengagement) would show lower levels, whereas couples high in attachment anxiety (hypervigilance) would show higher levels of emotion transmission. Results were counter to our predictions; attachment avoidance increased — and attachment anxiety decreased — emotion transmission between partners. Findings suggest attachment dynamics may not have the same effect on couples’ joint emotional functioning in a dyadic context as they do on individuals’ emotional functioning.

scholarly journals Are Differences in Bedtimes Bad for Relationships? Associations With Attachment and Conflict in Middle-Aged Couples

2020 ◽  
Vol 4 (Supplement_1) ◽  
pp. 469-469
Author(s):  
Joshua Novak ◽  
Stephanie Wilson
Keyword(s):  
Marital Quality ◽  
Attachment Styles ◽  
Structural Equation ◽  
Marital Therapy ◽  
Attachment Anxiety ◽  
Equation Modeling ◽  
Attachment Avoidance ◽  
Emotional Safety ◽  
As Relationship ◽  
Conflict Frequency

Abstract A robust body of literature has found birdirectional associations between sleep quality and marital quality in couple relationships (Hasler & Troxel, 2010; Pearlin, 2010). Additionally, dyadic research shows that differences in couples’ bed time routines and habits is associated with mental health outcomes (Chen, 2018), however the literature has not connected them with other marital processes that are mutable and clinically relevant. Attachment theory provides a clinically relevant framework that captures both interpersonal marital processes such as relationship conflict as well intrapersonal processes of individual emotional safety—essentially individuals’ personal strategies to balance closeness and distance in a relationship (Feeney, 2002; Rhodes et al., 2001). The two main attachment styles related to sleep processes are attachment avoidance and attachment anxiety (Collins et al., 2002; Gun, 2015; Troxel, 2007). Utilizing data from 234 couple dyads, we investigated if differences in partners’ bed times is associated with conflict frequency and attachment avoidance using a structural equation modeling approach. We controlled for a number of important factors and tested our hypothesized model against two plausible alternative models. Results revealed that greater difference in partners’ bed times was associated with higher conflict frequency for both husbands and wives through higher men’s attachment avoidance. Our findings highlight previous research on matched vs. unmatched couples on sleep routines, habits, and chronotypes (both morning or night vs. different; Larson et al., 1991) but highlight mutable and clinically relevant constructs for intervention. Implications for health promotion and marital therapy will be discussed.

Attachment and Commitment in Dyadic Friendships: Mediating Roles of Satisfaction, Quality of Alternatives, and Investment Size

2013 ◽  
Vol 4 ◽  
Author(s):  
Chong Man Chow ◽  
Cin Cin Tan
Keyword(s):  
Attachment Theory ◽  
Attachment Anxiety ◽  
Investment Model ◽  
Mediation Model ◽  
Same Sex ◽  
Attachment Avoidance ◽  
Investment Size ◽  
Dyadic Friendships ◽  
Mediation Processes

This study integrated the investment model and attachment theory to examine: (1) whether the link between friendship attachment and commitment would be mediated by relationship features of satisfaction, quality of alternatives, and investment size; and (2) whether these mediation processes would function at the intrapersonal (actor) and interpersonal (partner) levels. The sample included 120 pairs of same-sex friends (78 pairs of women). Data were analysed with the Actor-Partner Interdependence Mediation Model (APIMeM). Mediated actor effects suggest that individuals high in attachment avoidance are less satisfied with and invest less in their current friendship; these in turn, lead them to show less commitment. Furthermore, individuals high in attachment anxiety invest more in their current friendship, which in turn leads to higher commitment. Mediated partner effects suggest that individuals high in attachment avoidance have a friend who feels less satisfied with, invests less, and shows low commitment in their current friendship. The current study demonstrated that a dyadic design is useful in illustrating the dynamics of commitment between close friends.

scholarly journals Considering Attachment and Partner Perceptions in the Prediction of Physical and Emotional Sexual Satisfaction

2016 ◽  
Author(s):  
Camilla Stine Øverup ◽  
Carrie V. Smith
Keyword(s):  
Attachment Theory ◽  
Sexual Satisfaction ◽  
Attachment Anxiety ◽  
Attachment Avoidance ◽  
Sexual Interaction ◽  
Self And Other ◽  
Working Models ◽  
Level Of Satisfaction ◽  
Partner Satisfaction ◽  
Partner Perceptions

Introduction. Attachment theory provides a framework for understanding sexual satisfaction; generally, research suggest that attachment anxiety and avoidance are associated with decreased sexual satisfaction. Given their different working models of self and other, perceptions of the partner’s level of satisfaction may differentially influence people’s own perceptions of satisfaction based on their attachment avoidance and anxiety. Aims. Across two studies, we sought to examine the predictive value of attachment anxiety and avoidance, as well as perceptions of partner satisfaction in predicting physical and emotional satisfaction after sexual interactions. Methods. Participants (Study 1 = 52, and Study 2 = 144) completed a one-time survey containing a measure of attachment, and then reported on their physical and emotional sexual satisfaction after each sexual interaction over the course of 2-3 weeks. Main Outcome Measures. The Experiences in Close Relationships Scale-Revised was completed during a one-time survey, ratings of personal physical and emotional sexual satisfaction (Study 1 and 2) as well as perceptions of partner’s physical and emotional satisfaction were completed after sexual interactions (Study 2). Results. Greater attachment avoidance was associated with lesser physical and emotional satisfaction. Moreover, when perceiving the partner to be emotionally satisfied, people with more attachment avoidance reported less emotional satisfaction for themselves. For greater attachment anxiety, greater perceived partner satisfaction (physical and emotional) predicted greater personal satisfaction of both types. Conclusion. The findings support attachment theory as a valuable lens through which to study sexual satisfaction. Moreover, the results suggest that it is important to consider perceptions of partner sexual satisfaction in understanding the sexual satisfaction people who demonstrate attachment anxiety and avoidance.

scholarly journals Attachment Style, Complicated Grief and Post-Traumatic Growth in Traumatic Loss: The Role of Intrusive and Deliberate Rumination

2020 ◽  
Vol 17 (7) ◽  
pp. 636-644
Author(s):  
Hyu Jung Huh ◽  
Kyung Hee Kim ◽  
Hee-Kyung Lee ◽  
Jeong-Ho Chae
Keyword(s):  
Attachment Style ◽  
Indirect Effect ◽  
Attachment Styles ◽  
Complicated Grief ◽  
Attachment Anxiety ◽  
Equation Modeling ◽  
Traumatic Loss ◽  
Attachment Avoidance ◽  
Post Traumatic Growth ◽  
Post Traumatic

Objective The present study examines the effects of attachment styles on the grief response and the indirect effect of rumination in parents who lost a child in the Sewol Ferry accident.Methods Bereaved parents (n=81) completed self-report questionnaires evaluating their attachment style (Experience in Close Relationship-Short form), traumatic loss related rumination (Event-Related Rumination Inventory), degree of complicated grief (Inventory of Complicated Grief), and post-traumatic growth (Post-Traumatic Growth Inventory). Data were analyzed using correlation analysis, structural equation modeling, and bootstrapping.Results The indirect effect of event-related intrusive rumination was significant in the relationship between attachment avoidance and complicated grief. The path from attachment avoidance to post-traumatic growth via deliberate rumination was not significant. With respect toattachment anxiety and post-traumatic growth, the indirect effect of deliberate rumination was significant. But the indirect effect of intrusive rumination was not significant in the relationships among attachment anxiety, complicated grief, and post-traumatic growth.Conclusion Individuals with attachment anxiety could obtain post-traumatic growth via deliberate rumination. By contrast, attachment avoidance was associated with the risk of maladaptive grief. Grief interventions should account for individual differences in attachment styles through interventions that manage intrusive rumination and strengthen deliberate rumination.

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