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Cited by 190Psychoanalysis and Psychopathology ResearchPsychosomatic Disorders and Their TreatmentsPsychotherapy Techniques and Applications

The DOI matches its Crossref record; 51 of the 52 references it cites were found in a registry or an index.

A Model of Dissociation Based on Attachment Theory and Research

Liotti, Giovanni·2006·Journal of Trauma & Dissociation
DOI 10.1300/j229v07n04_04
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Abstract

The article offers an historical review of studies on the role played by attachment processes in dissociative psychopathology. The treatise proceeds from Bowlby's first insights, through Main and her collaborators' empirical studies on attachment disorganization, to the first formulation of the hypothesis linking disorganized early attachment to pathological dissociation. Recent research supporting the hypothesis is then reviewed. It is concluded that infant attachment disorganization is in itself a dissociative process, and predisposes the individual to respond with pathological dissociation to later traumas and life stressors. Four implications of this theory are interspersed in the review and are discussed in the final section: (1) pathological dissociation should be viewed as a primarily intersubjective reality hindering the integrative processes of consciousness, rather than as an intrapsychic defense against mental pain; (2) early defenses against attachment-related dissociation are based on interpersonal controlling strategies that inhibit the attachment system; (3) dissociative symptoms emerge as a consequence of the collapse of these defensive strategies in the face of events that powerfully activate the attachment system; (4) psychotherapy of pathological dissociation should be a phase-oriented process focused primarily on achieving attachment security, and only secondarily on trauma work. Research studies on the psychotherapy process could test some predictions of this model.

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Research works printed but not linked: 14

  1. Bowlby , J. 1973 . Attachment and loss, 2: Separation: Anxiety and anger. , London : Hogarth Press. .
  2. Buchheim , A. and George , C. “ The representational and neurobiological foundations of attachment disorganization in borderline personality disorder ” . In Disorganization of attachment and caregiving. , Edited by: Solomon , J. and George , C. New York : The Guilford Press. . (in press)
  3. Fonagy , P. 1991 . Thinking about thinking: Some clinical and theoretical considerations concerning the treatment of borderline patients. . International Journal of Psychoanalysis , 72 : 639 – 656 .
  4. Freyd , J. J. 1997 . Betrayal trauma: The logic of forgetting child abuse. , Cambridge, MA : Harvard University Press. .
  5. Hesse , E. , Main , M. , Abrams , K. Y. and Rifkin , A. 2003 . “ Unresolved states regarding loss or abuse can have “second-generation” effects: Disorganized, role-inversion and frightening ideation in the offspring of traumatized non-maltreating parents. ” . In Healing trauma: Attachment, mind, body and brain. , Edited by: Siegel , D. J. and Solomon , M. F. 57 – 106 . New York : Norton .
  6. Liotti , G. 1994 . La dimensione interpersonale della coscienza [The interpersonal dimension of consciousness]. , Roma : NIS. .
  7. Liotti , G. 1995 . “ Disorganized/disoriented attachment in the psychotherapy of the dissociative disorders. ” . In Attachment theory: Social, developmental and clinical perspectives. , Edited by: Goldberg , S. , Muir , R. and Kerr , J. 343 – 363 . Hillsdale, NJ : Analytic Press .
  8. Liotti , G. 1999 . “ Disorganized attachment as a model for the understanding of dissociative psychopathology. ” . In Attachment Disorganization. , Edited by: Solomon , J. and George , C. 291 – 317 . New York : Guilford Press .
  9. Liotti , G. , Intreccialagli , B. and Cecere , F. 1991 . Esperienza di lutto della madre e predisposizione ai disturbi dissociativi nella prole: uno studio caso-controllo [Losses in the mother's life and predisposition to the dissociative disorders in the offspring: A case-control study]. . Rivista di Psichiatria , 26 : 283 – 291 .
  10. Main , M. 1991 . “ Metacognitive knowledge, metacognitive monitoring, and singular (coherent) vs. multiple (incoherent) model of attachment. ” . In Attachment across the life cycle. , Edited by: Parkes , C. M. , Stevenson-Hinde , J. and Marris , P. 127 – 159 . London : Routledge .
  11. Melnick , S. , Lyons-Ruth , K. , Hobson , P. and Patrick , M. Discriminating borderline states of mind regarding attachment: Operationalizing the concepts of affective splitting and hostile-helpless states of mind on the Adult Attachment Interview. Biennial Meeting of the Society for Research in Child Development, Tampa, FL, April, 2003
  12. Rycroft , C. 1987 . “ Dissociation of the personality ” . In The Oxford companion to the mind. , Edited by: Gregory , R. 197 – 198 . Oxford : Oxford University Press .
  13. Solomon , J. and George , C. 1999 . “ The place of disorganization in attachment theory. ” . In Attachment disorganization. , Edited by: Solomon , J. and George , C. 3 – 32 . New York : Guilford Press .
  14. Trevarthen , C. 1974 . Conversations with a two-month-old. . New Scientist , 62 : 230 – 235 .

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Metadata

Authors
Liotti, G.
Corresponding author
Liotti, Giovanni
Venue
Journal of Trauma & Dissociation
Publisher
Informa UK Limited
Published
2006-11-21
Volume
7
Issue
4
Pages
55-73
ISSN
  • 1529-9732 (ISSN-L)
  • 1529-9740
DOI
10.1300/j229v07n04_04
OpenAlex
W2028745930
Cited by
190
References
52
Citations by year
2026: 10 · 2025: 24 · 2024: 12 · 2023: 9 · 2022: 13 · 2021: 4 · 2020: 15 · 2019: 9 · 2018: 9 · 2017: 11 · 2016: 11 · 2015: 10 · 2014: 15 · 2013: 8 · 2012: 7
FWCI
0.61
Type
journal article
Language
en
Open access
closed
Locations
  • Journal of Trauma & Dissociation (publishedVersion)
  • PubMed (publishedVersion)
Topics
  • Social Sciences › Psychology › Clinical Psychology › Psychoanalysis and Psychopathology Research
  • Health Sciences › Medicine › Psychiatry and Mental health › Psychosomatic Disorders and Their Treatments
  • Social Sciences › Psychology › Clinical Psychology › Psychotherapy Techniques and Applications
Keywords
pathological dissociation, attachment theory, disorganized attachment, Bowlby, Main, intersubjectivity, defense mechanisms, attachment security, trauma
MeSH terms
Dissociative Disorders, Humans, Interpersonal Relations, Object Attachment, Psychological Theory

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