Developing a Secure Adult Attachment Style

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During our lifespans, people go through the emotional difficulties and successes on the roller coaster of life. Some people handle the difficulties and challenges with more ease than others do. A direct cause on the ability to handle the emotional highs and lows of life could be related to the adult attachment style. As an adult if you have a secure attachment style, you will be more likely to seek help from others and lead a generally happier lifestyle. By reviewing an article directly related to adult attachment styles, and correlating it to different ideas in Experiencing the Lifespan, a better understanding of the causes of an insecure adult attachment style can be reached. Interpersonal and Genetic Origins of Adult Attachment Styles: A Longitudinal Study From Infancy to Early Adulthood is to provide research assessing the primary assumption that adult attachment style primarily stems from variation in peoples’ developmental histories. Attachment theory makes this assumption and many research studies have been performed with this assumption in place. The primary goal of these authors was to perform a study that would test the main assumption of attachment theory and to help broaden the understanding of adult attachment styles. In order to carry out their study, the authors used information from the National Institute of Child Health and Human Development Study of Early Child Care and Youth Development. This study was a longitudinal study that assessed children on multiple occasions from birth to age fifteen and followed up at age eighteen (Fraley, 2013, p. 818). The authors introduce their study by reviewing attachment theory and the origins of attachment style, maternal sensitivity, social competence, and friendship. The ... ... middle of paper ... ...nt attachment styles in adulthood. In conclusion, many different variables can affect adult attachment styles. The article found that the primary antecedents, maternal sensitivity, social competencies, and friendship, have direct relationships to how securely or insecurely an adult can be attached. By relating these ideas to the textbook, a better understanding and correlation can be made as to how these three antecedents truly affect an adult’s ability to develop a secure attachment. References Belsky, J. (2013). Experiencing the lifespan (3rd ed.). New York, NY: Worth Publishers. Fraley, R., Roisman, G. I., Booth-LaForce, C., Owen, M., & Holland, A. S. (2013). Interpersonal and genetic origins of adult attachment styles: A longitudinal study from infancy to early adulthood. Journal of Personality And Social Psychology, 104(5), 817-838. Doi: 10.1037/a0031435

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