Evaluating the Association Between Psychopathy and Specific Attachment Models in Adults

2019 ◽  
Vol 33 (1) ◽  
pp. 1-S16 ◽  
Author(s):  
Elliott Christian ◽  
Martin Sellbom ◽  
Ross B. Wilkinson
Keyword(s):  
Peer Relationships ◽  
Attachment Styles ◽  
Close Relationships ◽  
Self Report ◽  
Future Research ◽  
Current Investigation ◽  
Attachment Relationships ◽  
Specific Attachment ◽  
The Relationship ◽  
General Community

In the current investigation, we examined the association between psychopathy and attachment styles in several specific attachment relationships (i.e., romantic, mother, father, friend). Data were collected online from a combination of Australian university and general community samples (N = 729, 53.50% female) using the Expanded Levenson Self-Report Psychopathy scale (Christian & Sellbom, 2016) and a modified version of the Experiences in Close Relationships Structures (Fraley, Heffernan, Vicary, & Brumbaugh, 2011). Our results revealed that specific attachment models tend to have small to moderate associations with the components of psychopathy, but that the strength and direction of these associations tends to differ between figures, components of psychopathy, and dimension of attachment considered. Interestingly, it appeared that peer relationships (i.e., romantic, friend) tended to account for the majority of the variance in the relationship between psychopathy and general attachment styles, which may be an important avenue for future research.

scholarly journals Attachment Styles and Marital Quality Between Spouses

2021 ◽  
Vol 7 (1) ◽  
pp. 57-71
Author(s):  
Fatahyah Yahya ◽  
Aqilah Yusoff ◽  
Ahmad Tarmizi Talib ◽  
Sarjit Singh Darshan Singh ◽  
Abdul Hakim Mohad ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Marital Satisfaction ◽  
Marital Quality ◽  
Attachment Styles ◽  
Self Report ◽  
Alternative Methods ◽  
Future Research ◽  
Close Relationship ◽  
Study Experience ◽  
Adjustment Test ◽  
The Relationship

The research was aimed to study the relationship between attachment styles and marital quality between spouses. A total number of 52 spouses representing teachers from Sekolah Menengah Agama Daeratul Ma'arifil Wataniah 1 (SMA DMW 1), in Peninsular Malaysia's northwest coast, participated in this study. There were two sets of questionnaires used in this study: Experience in Close Relationship (ECR) and Marital Adjustment Test (MAT). The results showed that there was a significant relationship between attachment styles and spouses' styles. However, there is no relationship between marital satisfaction among spouses, and there is also no relationship between attachment styles and marital satisfaction among spouses. Future research is suggested to enhance the research by moving beyond self-report instruments to develop alternative methods of assessment as some of the questions should be more specifically suitable in Malaysian culture.  

An investigation of the mediating factors in the relationship between early childhood adversity and borderline personality characteristics in forensic inpatients

2016 ◽  
Vol 18 (1) ◽  
pp. 17-30
Author(s):  
Helena Varnaseri ◽  
Tony Lavender ◽  
Lona Lockerbie
Keyword(s):  
Autobiographical Memory ◽  
Attachment Styles ◽  
Social Problem Solving ◽  
Borderline Personality ◽  
Self Report ◽  
Future Research ◽  
Content Type ◽  
Memory Specificity ◽  
Autobiographical Memory Specificity ◽  
The Relationship

Purpose – The purpose of this paper is to investigate whether early maladaptive schema (EMS) and autobiographical memory specificity mediate the relationship between abuse and attachment in childhood with Borderline Personality Disorder (BPD) characteristics among forensic inpatients. Design/methodology/approach – The study adopted a quantitative cross-sectional design. In total, 34 male adults residing in medium secure facilities completed self-report measures. Data were analysed using bootstrapped mediation procedures. Findings – The study’s hypotheses received partial support. The EMS of “entitlement/grandiosity” and autobiographical memory specificity differentially mediated the relationship between emotional and physical abuse and neglect, and parental care and overprotection with BPD characteristics, including trait anger and the frequent expression of anger. In line with attachment theory and the functional avoidance mechanism (Williams et al., 2007), the proposed mediators are conceptualised as adaptive responses to early adversity with potential maladaptive consequences for later interpersonal functioning. Research limitations/implications – These provisional findings will require further exploration with specific investigation of the relationship between EMS and autobiographical memory specificity. It is recommended that future research replicates the study’s design with a larger sample and investigate the role of other mediators and moderators in this complex relationship. Examples of these are mentalisation, social problem-solving capabilities, social support and adult attachment styles. Practical implications – Clinical implications encourage the incorporation of these mediators into clinical formulation, intervention and ward practices. Originality/value – For forensic inpatients with a history of adversity, interventions working directly with EMS and specificity of autobiographical memory, e.g. schema therapy (Young, 1999), mentalisation and mindfulness may be useful. Furthermore, the relationship between EMS and specificity of autobiographical memory with interpersonal experience and functioning can be incorporated into clinical formulation.

Attachment and Field Dependence: Individual Differences in Information Processing

2004 ◽  
Vol 9 (1) ◽  
pp. 43-55 ◽  
Author(s):  
Patrizia Vermigli ◽  
Alessandro Toni
Keyword(s):  
Information Processing ◽  
Individual Differences ◽  
Field Dependence ◽  
Attachment Styles ◽  
Close Relationships ◽  
Adult Age ◽  
Males And Females ◽  
Figure Test ◽  
The Relationship ◽  
Measure Field

The present research analyzes the relationship between attachment styles at an adult age and field dependence in order to identify possible individual differences in information processing. The “Experience in Close Relationships” test of Brennan et al. was administered to a sample of 380 individuals (160 males, 220 females), while a subsample of 122 subjects was given the Embedded Figure Test to measure field dependence. Confirming the starting hypothesis, the results have shown that individuals with different attachment styles have a different way of perceiving the figure against the background. Ambivalent and avoidant individuals lie at the two extremes of the same dimension while secure individuals occupy the central part. Significant differences also emerged between males and females.

scholarly journals The Creative Self-Concept as a Mediator Between Openness to Experience and Creative Behaviour

2016 ◽  
Vol 3 (2) ◽  
pp. 408-417 ◽  
Author(s):  
Bin-Bin Chen
Keyword(s):  
Structural Equation ◽  
Openness To Experience ◽  
Self Report ◽  
Mediation Effect ◽  
Self Concept ◽  
Future Research ◽  
Equation Modelling ◽  
Creative Behaviour ◽  
Creative Self ◽  
The Relationship

AbstractThis study examined the mediation effect of creative self-concept on the relationship between Openness to Experience and creative behaviours among university students. Participants in the study completed self-report measures of Openness to Experience, creative behaviours and creative self-concept. Structural equation modelling revealed that, as predicted, Openness to Experience was indirectly related to creative behaviours through creative self-concept. Implications for future research and limitations of the present findings are discussed.

scholarly journals Measuring attachment and parental bonding in psychosis and its clinical implications

2014 ◽  
Vol 25 (2) ◽  
pp. 142-149 ◽  
Author(s):  
S. Mathews ◽  
J. Onwumere ◽  
S. Bissoli ◽  
M. Ruggeri ◽  
E. Kuipers ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Attachment Theory ◽  
Attachment Style ◽  
Attachment Styles ◽  
Parental Bonding ◽  
Insecure Attachment ◽  
Self Report ◽  
Future Research ◽  
Clinical Implications ◽  
Term Outcome ◽  
Long Term Outcome

Background.Attachment theory proposes that psychological functioning and affect regulations are influenced by the attachment we form with others. Early relationships with parents or caregivers lay the foundations for attachment styles. These styles are proposed to influence how we relate to others during our life can be modified by the relationships and events we experience in our lifespan. A secure attachment style is associated with a capacity to manage distress, comfort with autonomy and the ability to form relationships with others, whereas insecure attachment can lead to dysfunctional relationships, emotional and behaviour avoidance. Attachment theory provides a useful framework to inform our understanding of relationship difficulties in people with psychosis. This paper aims to complement recent systematic reviews by providing an overview of attachment theory, its application to psychosis, including an understanding of measurement issues and the clinical implications offered.Method.A narrative review was completed of the measures of attachment and parental bonding in psychosis. Its clinical implications are also discussed. The paper also explores the link between insecure attachment styles and illness course, social functioning and symptomatology. The following questions are addressed: What are the key attachment measures that have been used within the attachment and psychosis literature? What are the results of studies that have measured attachment or parental bonding in psychosis and what clinical implications can we derive from it? What are some of the key questions for future research from these findings in relation to the onset of psychosis research field?Results.The most commonly used measures of attachment in psychosis research are reviewed. Self-report questionnaires and semi-structured interviews have mainly been used to examine attachment styles in adult samples and in recent years comprise a measure specifically developed for a psychosis group. The review suggests that insecure attachment styles are common in psychosis samples. Key relationships were observed between insecure, avoidant and anxious attachment styles and psychosis development, expression and long-term outcome.Conclusions.Attachment theory can provide a useful framework to facilitate our understanding of interpersonal difficulties in psychosis that may predate its onset and impact on observed variability in outcomes, including treatment engagement. Greater attention should be given to the assessment of attachment needs and to the development of interventions that seek to compensate for these difficulties. However, further investigations are required on specifying the exact mechanisms by which specific attachment styles impact on the development of psychosis and its course.

Insecure attachment is associated with paranoia but not hallucinations in psychotic patients: the mediating role of negative self-esteem

2014 ◽  
Vol 45 (7) ◽  
pp. 1495-1507 ◽  
Author(s):  
S. Wickham ◽  
K. Sitko ◽  
R. P. Bentall
Keyword(s):  
Attachment Style ◽  
Attachment Styles ◽  
Self Esteem ◽  
Insecure Attachment ◽  
Future Research ◽  
Schizophrenia Spectrum Disorders ◽  
Attachment Representations ◽  
Co Morbidity ◽  
The Relationship

BackgroundA growing body of research has investigated associations between insecure attachment styles and psychosis. However, despite good theoretical and epidemiological reasons for hypothesising that insecure attachment may be specifically implicated in paranoid delusions, few studies have considered the role it plays in specific symptoms.MethodWe examined the relationship between attachment style, paranoid beliefs and hallucinatory experiences in a sample of 176 people with a diagnosis of schizophrenia spectrum disorders and 113 healthy controls. We also investigated the possible role of negative self-esteem in mediating this association.ResultsInsecure attachment predicted paranoia but not hallucinations after co-morbidity between the symptoms was controlled for. Negative self-esteem partially mediated the association between attachment anxiety and clinical paranoia, and fully mediated the relationship between attachment avoidance and clinical paranoia.ConclusionsIt may be fruitful to explore attachment representations in psychological treatments for paranoid patients. If future research confirms the importance of disrupted attachment as a risk factor for persecutory delusions, consideration might be given to how to protect vulnerable young people, for example those raised in children's homes.

scholarly journals Evaluation of a short version of the Experiences in Close Relationships-Revised questionnaire (ECR-RD8): results from a representative German sample

2021 ◽  
Vol 9 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Johannes C. Ehrenthal ◽  
Johannes Zimmermann ◽  
Katja Brenk-Franz ◽  
Ulrike Dinger ◽  
Henning Schauenburg ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Close Relationships ◽  
Full Scale ◽  
Self Report ◽  
Future Research ◽  
Short Version ◽  
German Population ◽  
Attachment Insecurity ◽  
Convenience Sample ◽  
Norm Values ◽  
Experiences In Close Relationships

Abstract Background Attachment insecurity is a prominent risk factor for the development and course of psychiatric and psychosomatic disorders. The Experiences in Close Relationships - Revised (ECR-R) questionnaire is a widely used self-report to assess attachment related anxiety and avoidance. However, its length has the potential to restrict its use in large, multi-instrument studies. The aim of this study was to develop and evaluate a brief version of the ECR-R, and provide norm values for the German population. Methods A screening version of the original ECR-R was developed through principal components analysis of datasets from several previous studies. In a representative sample of 2428 randomly selected individuals from the German population, we compared fit indices of different models by means of confirmatory factor analyses (CFA). We investigated the convergent validity of the screening version in an independent convenience sample of 557 participants. Correlations between the short and the full scale were investigated in a re-analysis of the original German ECR-R evaluation sample. Results CFA indicated a satisfactory model fit for an eight-item version (ECR-RD8). The ECR-RD8 demonstrated adequate reliability. The subscales correlated as expected with another self-report measure of attachment in an independent sample. Individuals with higher levels of attachment anxiety, but especially higher levels of attachment avoidance were significantly more likely to not be in a relationship, across all age groups. Correlations between the short and the full scale were high. Conclusions The ECR-RD8 appears to be a reliable, valid, and economic questionnaire for assessing attachment insecurity. In addition, the reported population-based norm values will help to contextualize future research findings.

scholarly journals The Relationship between Adolescent Rumination and Maternal Rumination, Criticism and Positivity

2017 ◽  
Vol 45 (3) ◽  
pp. 300-311 ◽  
Author(s):  
Jessica L. Douglas ◽  
Deirdre Williams ◽  
Shirley Reynolds
Keyword(s):  
Parenting Practices ◽  
Female Adolescent ◽  
Self Report ◽  
Future Research ◽  
Cross Sectional ◽  
Mothers And Daughters ◽  
Observational Measure ◽  
Cross Sectional Design ◽  
Prospective Longitudinal ◽  
The Relationship

Background: Rumination predicts depression in adults and adolescents. The development of rumination has been linked to parenting practices, but only limited research has investigated this and research has tended to rely on self-report parenting measures. Aims: To investigate the relationship between female adolescent rumination and maternal modelling, criticism and positivity using an observational measure of parental behaviour. Method: A cross-sectional design was used. Daughters aged 16–18 years and their mothers (n = 154 dyads) completed questionnaire measures of rumination and affect. Mothers of girls with rumination scores in the upper and lower quartile (both n = 26) also completed the Five Minute Speech Sample, which was used to measure maternal criticism and positivity. Results: Mothers of low rumination girls made significantly more positive comments about their daughters than the mothers of high ruminators. Mothers made very few critical comments. Self-reported rumination was not correlated in mothers and daughters, suggesting a lack of support for the potential role of modelling. Conclusion: Overall, low maternal positivity was associated with rumination in female adolescents. There was no evidence that maternal rumination or criticism were associated with adolescent rumination. The results suggest a number of implications for future research, including the need for prospective longitudinal studies using observational parenting measures.

Attachment style, serial argument, and taking conflict personally

2015 ◽  
Vol 4 (1) ◽  
pp. 63-86 ◽  
Author(s):  
Dale Hample ◽  
Adam S. Richards
Keyword(s):  
Structural Equation Model ◽  
Attachment Style ◽  
Attachment Styles ◽  
Structural Equation ◽  
Close Relationships ◽  
Equation Model ◽  
Personal Relationships ◽  
Cross Sectional Survey ◽  
Cross Sectional ◽  
The Relationship

Serial argument theory explains recurring conflict within personal relationships. The theory specifies that an arguer’s goals influence his/her tactics, leading to argument outcomes which include effects on the relationship. We extend this model in two ways. First we suggest that attachment styles predict serial argument goals. Second, we hypothesize that taking conflict personally (TCP) is an outcome of such arguments. University students (N = 682) completed a cross-sectional survey about their attachment styles and felt personalization regarding a serial argument they experienced. A structural equation model tested relationships between attachment styles, goals, tactics, outcomes, and TCP. Results indicated that attachment styles predict goals of serial arguing and serial argument outcomes predict TCP. The study shows that attachment styles have modest but statistically significant effects on goals of serial arguing in close relationships and that the tactics used in serial arguing predict the degree to which people take recurring conflict personally.

Exploring Potential Mediation Pathways on the Relationship Between Acculturation and Body Mass Index (BMI) Among Latino Adolescents

2021 ◽  
pp. 154041532110298
Author(s):  
Christopher Johansen ◽  
Kim D. Reynolds ◽  
Bin Xie ◽  
Paula Palmer
Keyword(s):  
Physical Activity ◽  
Body Mass Index ◽  
Sedentary Behavior ◽  
Body Mass ◽  
Self Report ◽  
Latino Adolescents ◽  
Future Research ◽  
Public High Schools ◽  
Multiple Mediation ◽  
The Relationship

Background: Positive associations have been observed between acculturation and body mass index (BMI), but the mediators of this relationship are not well established. Acculturation researchers have called for investigating the influence of socio-contextual variables as mediators. The objective of this study was to test the mediating effects of salty snacks, sweet snacks, physical activity, and sedentary behavior on the relationship between acculturation and BMI among Latino adolescents. Methods: Adolescents who self-identified as Latino ( n = 431) at public high schools in Southern California were recruited and completed a self-report survey. A bootstrapped multiple mediation model was used to test mediation pathways. Results: Acculturation was positively associated with physical activity ( B = 0.09, p < .05). The indirect effects of salty snacks, sweet snacks, physical activity, and sedentary behavior were not associated with BMI, suggesting no mediation. Conclusions: Future research should examine additional mediating variables on the relationship between acculturation and BMI.

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