Attachment-related psychodynamics
Abstract
Because there has been relatively little communication and cross-fertilization between the two major lines of research on adult attachment, one based on coded narrative assessments of defensive processes, the other on simple self-reports of 'attachment style' in close relationships, we here explain and review recent work based on a combination of self-report and other kinds of method, including behavioral observations and unconscious priming techniques. The review indicates that considerable progress has been made in testing central hypotheses derived from attachment theory and in exploring unconscious, psychodynamic processes related to affect-regulation and attachment-system activation. The combination of self-report assessment of attachment style and experimental manipulation of other theoretically pertinent variables allows researchers to test causal hypotheses. We present a model of normative and individual-difference processes related to attachment and identify areas in which further research is needed and likely to be successful. One long-range goal is to create a more complete theory of personality built on attachment theory and other object relations theories.
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Adult attachment is best described by two dimensions, avoidance and anxiety.
“Also, research suggests that adult attachment is best described by two dimensions, avoidance, and anxiety (Shaver and Mikulincer, 2002; Mikulincer and Shaver, 2007).”
From Exploring Relationships: A Systematic Review on Intimate Partner Violence and Attachment (2018) · cites this paper as Shaver and Mikulincer, 2002
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“They also tend to display hypersensitivity to perceived threats to the relationship (Shaver & Mikulincer, 2002).”
Influential
- Authors
- Shaver, P. R., & Mikulincer, M.
- Affiliations
- University of California, Davis (US)
- Bar-Ilan University (IL)
- Venue
- Attachment & Human Development
- Publisher
- Informa UK Limited
- Published
- 2002-09
- Volume
- 4
- Issue
- 2
- Pages
- 133-161
- ISSN
- 1461-6734 (ISSN-L)
- 1469-2988
- OpenAlex
- W2044141867
- Cited by
- 1,294
- References
- 7
- Citations by year
- 2026: 34 · 2025: 63 · 2024: 60 · 2023: 42 · 2022: 75 · 2021: 50 · 2020: 110 · 2019: 52 · 2018: 70 · 2017: 56 · 2016: 76 · 2015: 70 · 2014: 78 · 2013: 57 · 2012: 70
- FWCI
- 26.58
- Type
- journal article
- Language
- en
- Open access
- closed
- Locations
- Attachment & Human Development (publishedVersion)
- PubMed (publishedVersion)
- Topics
- Social Sciences › Psychology › Social Psychology › Attachment and Relationship Dynamics
- Social Sciences › Psychology › Clinical Psychology › Psychoanalysis and Psychopathology Research
- Social Sciences › Psychology › Clinical Psychology › Personality Traits and Psychology
- Keywords
- adult attachment, attachment theory, attachment styles, psychodynamics, emotion regulation, unconscious processes, defensive processes, personality theory, object relations theory, individual differences, causal hypotheses
- MeSH terms
- Adult, Defense Mechanisms, Humans, Interpersonal Relations, Models, Psychological, Object Attachment, Personality, Psychoanalytic Theory
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