PREDICTORS OF ATTACHMENT STYLES OF CHILDREN IN FOSTER CARE: AN ATTACHMENT THEORY MODEL FOR WORKING WITH FAMILIES

2004 ◽  
Vol 30 (4) ◽  
pp. 439-452 ◽  
Author(s):  
Lenore M. McWey
2019 ◽  
Vol 27 (4) ◽  
pp. 394-403 ◽  
Author(s):  
Megan Miranda ◽  
Elizabeth Molla ◽  
Eman Tadros

This article provides a review of the literature in attachment theory, outcomes of being in foster care, impacts of trauma, and long-term attachment outcomes of foster care alumni. Thus far, minimal research has been conducted on the topic of attachment outcomes of foster care alumni in general as related to the field of marriage and family therapy. Attachment outcomes of foster care alumni is an important area to understand for marriage and family therapists because of the connection between attachment and relational functioning. The purpose of this article is to help gain an initial understanding of the experiences of foster care alumni and how those experiences may impact their development of attachment styles. Exploring this topic assists clinicians in providing services to children currently in foster care, foster care alumni, and their families.


Author(s):  
Ina Grau ◽  
Jörg Doll

Abstract. Employing one correlational and two experimental studies, this paper examines the influence of attachment styles (secure, anxious, avoidant) on a person’s experience of equity in intimate relationships. While one experimental study employed a priming technique to stimulate the different attachment styles, the other involved vignettes describing fictitious characters with typical attachment styles. As the specific hypotheses about the single equity components have been developed on the basis of the attachment theory, the equity ratio itself and the four equity components (own outcome, own input, partner’s outcome, partner’s input) are analyzed as dependent variables. While partners with a secure attachment style tend to describe their relationship as equitable (i.e., they give and take extensively), partners who feel anxious about their relationship generally see themselves as being in an inequitable, disadvantaged position (i.e., they receive little from their partner). The hypothesis that avoidant partners would feel advantaged as they were less committed was only supported by the correlational study. Against expectations, the results of both experiments indicate that avoidant partners generally see themselves (or see avoidant vignettes) as being treated equitably, but that there is less emotional exchange than is the case with secure partners. Avoidant partners give and take less than secure ones.


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