Influences of Attachment Theory on Personality Development

1136 Words3 Pages
bulb-icon

Recommended: Advantages of attachment theory

The concepts proposed by attachment theory have been very influential to the field of personality psychology. Over the years, many studies have supported the notion that mother-child attachment styles during childhood can impact future styles of behavior. Research conducted by Festa and Ginsburg (2011) examined the impact of parental and peer factors on the development of social anxiety amongst children. Further research conducted by Li and Chan (2012) examined the specific impact of anxiety and avoidant attachment styles on the development of cognitive, emotional, and behavioral indicators in determining the quality of romantic relationships amongst adults (Li & Chan, 2012).

Individuals that possess social anxiety disorder (SAD) experience overwhelming feelings of fear when put into social situations, leaving them distressed and inhibited (Festa and Ginsburg, 2011). There are many possible factors that can encourage the development of social anxiety disorder, some of which include parent-child relationships, parent anxiety, rejection, overcontrol, social acceptance, support by peers, and friendship quality. Of these factors, Festa and Ginsburg (2011) specifically observed:

The relative importance of parental (i.e., parental anxiety, rejection, and overcontrol) and peer factors (i.e., social acceptance, social support, and friendship quality) in children that have or are at risk of obtaining social anxiety disorder (Festa et al., 2011, p. 291).

A series of questionnaires and an interview were administered to 63 children and their biological parents. Of the 63 parents, twenty-six were diagnosed with some form of an anxiety disorder using the Anxiety Disorders Interview Schedule for DSM-IV (Festa et al., 2011). First, children...

... middle of paper ...

...-based therapy interest me.

References

Ginsburg, G. G., & Festa, C. F. (2011). Parental and peer predictors of social anxiety in youth. Child Psychiatry human development, 291-306. Retrieved from http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC3359646/

Hazan, C., & Shaver, P. (). Romantic Love Conceptualized as an Attachment Process. Personality and Social Psychology , 52, 511-524.

Li, T., & Chan, D. K. (2012). How anxious and avoidant attachment affect romantic relationship quality differently: A meta-analytic review. European Journal of Social Psychology, 42, 406-419. Retrieved April 16, 2014, from http://dx.doi.org/10.1002/ejsp.1842

Slavin, R. (2011). Educational psychology. (10 ed.). Boston: Pearson College Div

Waters, T. (2004). Learning to Love: From your Mother's Arms to your Lover's Arms . The Medium (Voice of the University of Toronto), 30, 1-4.

Show More
Related

  • RCMAS-2 Essay

    1773 Words  | 4 Pages

    The Revised Children’s Manifest Anxiety Scale (RCMAS-2) is a revision of the Children’s Manifest Anxiety Scale (CMAS) created by Cecil Reynolds and Bert Richmond in 1985 (Reynolds & Richmond, 2008). The RCMAS-2 includes an updated standardization sample, improved psychometrics, and broadened content (Reynolds & Richmond, 2008). Although these revisions occurred, the brevity, elementary reading level, and content-based item clusters were retained, offering an updated and effective tool for understanding and treating anxiety in school-aged children (Reynolds & Richmond, 2008).

    Read More

  • Separation Anxiety and Attachment in Infants and Toddlers

    2903 Words  | 6 Pages

    Karen, R., (1998). Becoming Attached: First Relationships and How They Shape Our Capacity to Love. New York: Oxford Press.

    Read More

  • Social Anxiety Disorder: Nature vs Nurture

    904 Words  | 2 Pages

    Grigorenko, Elena L., et al. "Bringing a Developmental Perspective to Anxiety Genetics." Development and psychopathology 24.4 (2012): 1179-93. ProQuest. Web. 23 Feb. 2014.

    Read More

  • Adult Attachment Styles

    589 Words  | 2 Pages

    Admittedly, many psychologists define attachment as an enduring, affectionate bond that one person forms between himself and another person throughout life. Mary Ainsworth provided the most famous research: strange situation, offering explanations of individual differences in attachment. However, in this Adult Attachment Style questionnaire that I took, I found many factors relevant to attachment as defined in the textbook. For example, in the textbook, it defines attachment based on Ainsworth research, the strange situation by observing attachment forms between mother and infants. They are described in four attachment styles: securely attached, insecure avoidant, insecure resistant, and insecure disorganized.

    Read More

  • The Importance Of Core Concepts In Narrative Therapy And Emotionly Focused Therapy

    1175 Words  | 3 Pages

    Acknowledging, the importance of attachment has been in helpful development of couples therapy, in particular to Emotionally Focused Couples Therapy (EFT), “where it helps explain how even healthy adults need to depend on each other,” (Nichols, 2013, p. 62). EFT is an empirically validated experiential therapy model that works with emotion to create change. EFT therapists use “attachment theory to deconstruct the familiar dynamic in which one partner criticizes and complains while the other gets defensive and withdraws,” (Nichols, 2013, p.63). Research has demonstrated the importance of attachment in individuals. It is not solely a childhood trait attachment is a trait that individuals carry for the rest of their lives. Nonetheless, it is important to work on the attachments with families and couples in order to alleviate some of the negative interactions that arise from feeling a fear of losing the attachment with

    Read More

  • Attachment Theory

    853 Words  | 2 Pages

    Cassidy, J., & Shaver, P.R. (1999). Handbook of attachment: Theory, research, and clinical applications. New York: The Guilford Press.

    Read More

  • Social Anxiety and Cognitive Behavioral Treatments

    2020 Words  | 5 Pages

    Roth, D. A., & Heimberg, R. G. (2001). Cognitive-behavioral models of social anxiety disorder. Psychiatric Clinics Of North America, 24(4), 753-771. doi:10.1016/S0193-953X(05)70261-6

    Read More

  • Social Anxiety Disorder Essay

    1931 Words  | 4 Pages

    SAD is the third most prevalent mental disorder behind depression and alcoholism. About 5.3 million American adults have social phobia, which usually begins in childhood or adolescence, according to NIMH. For many social phobics, preoccupation with what others think may interfere in their job, school, relationships or other social activities. "Everyday interactions can become very problematic for people with social anxiety disorder," (Dittmann, 2005). Recent update of Anxiety and Depression Association of America (ADAA) stated that about 15 million American adults have social anxiety disorder. 36 percent of people with social anxiety disorder report symptoms for 10 or more years before seeking help. Furthermore, reported typical age of onset is 13 years old (ADAA, 2014) suggests that children and adolesce...

    Read More

  • Risk and Resilience in Adolescence

    1412 Words  | 3 Pages

    Woodvard, L. J. & Fergusson, D. M. (2001). Life Course Outcomes of Young People with Anxiety Disorders in Adolescence. Journal of The American Academy of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry, 1081-1093.

    Read More

  • The Importance of Attachment for the Children's Development

    865 Words  | 2 Pages

    Psychologist, Mary Ainsworth expanded upon Bowlby's original work. She conducted a study labelled the ‘Strange Situation’. In the study, based upon the children’s reactions, Ainsworth described three major styles of attachment: secure attachment, ambivalent-insecure attachment, and avoidant-insecure attachment. Work by Stroufe and Waters in 1977, further supported Ainsworth's attachment styles and have indicated that attachment styles also have an impact on behaviours later in life (Birns, 1999, p. 13). Researchers have found strengths in attachment patterns established early in life can lead to a number of outcomes. For example, children who are securely attached as infants tend to develop stronger self-esteem and better self-reliance as they grow older. These children also tend to be more independent, perform better in school, have successful social relationships, and experience less depression and anxiety (Birns, 1999, p. 13).

    Read More

  • The Effects of Exercise on Mental Health

    1841 Words  | 4 Pages

    March, J. S., (1997). Multidimensional Anxiety Scale for Children: Technical manual. North Tonawanda, NY: Multi Health Systems, Inc.

    Read More

  • Avoidant Personality Disorder

    1143 Words  | 3 Pages

    Experts believe that heredity and prenatal maternal factors are connected with Avoidant Personality Disorder. There is scientific evidence that proves that a child that lives in a timid environment in infancy is prone to develop Avoidant Personality Disorder later in life (Kantor). Another important factor that contributes to the development of Avoidant Personality Disorder is parental rejection. Parental rejection can destroy a child’s optimism, leaving them with feelings of social isolation. A common question that a rejected child might ask would be, for instance, “If my parents won’t accept me, then who will?”

    Read More

  • Essay On Attachment Theory

    1794 Words  | 4 Pages

    For example, Magai & Passman (1997) discovered a strong relationship between secure attachments and emotional well-being of middle aged adults, which extends to individuals later in life. Understanding the role of attachment and its psychosocial impact during later life is an important area that needs further research. In regards to TMT, close relationships offer security, protection, and give meaning to life (Mikulincer, Florian, & Hirschberger, 2003).

    Read More

  • Basc-2 Case Studies

    433 Words  | 1 Pages

    Her mother, Elaine, worries about her current grades, her struggle to meet new people, and her overall attitude in other environments outside of the home. The BASC-2 SRP contains 16 subscales such as self-esteem, social stress, relations with parents, locus of control, and interpersonal relationships just to name a few (Matson, Andrasik, & Matson, 2009). These are key factors that can be accounted for how Mary is behaving at home and in school and can help determine some reasons behind her staggering grades and social anxiety in school. Through this assessment Mary is providing her own information in these areas; findings may show other underlying issues that are affecting Mary’s academic

    Read More

  • True Love Does Exist

    2243 Words  | 5 Pages

    Boston: Bedford/St. Martins,. 349. The. “Psychological Theories About the Dynamics of Love (I).” 01 Mar. 2005 http://psychology.about.com/library/weekly/aa022000a.htm Richmond, Raymond Lloyd.

    Read More

More about Influences of Attachment Theory on Personality Development

Open Document