Affect Consciousness and Adult Attachment

Abstract

The concept of affect consciousness refers to the ability to perceive, reflect upon, express and respond to one’s own or other individuals’ affective experiences. The aim of this study was to investigate how affect consciousness and adult attachment are related. Three clinical groups (eating disorders, relational problems, and stress-related problems), and one non-clinical group (total N = 82) completed the Attachment Style Questionnaire and were interviewed using the Affect Consciousness Interview—Self/Other. Results showed associations between high affect consciousness and secure attachment, and between low affect consciousness and insecure attachment. Moreover, attachment style was predicted by consciousness about others’ and own affects in general, and specifically by consciousness about others’ anger and guilt, and by own joy. Affect consciousness as a potential dimension or moderator of attachment merits further investigation.

Share and Cite:

Lech, B. , Andersson, G. & Holmqvist, R. (2012). Affect Consciousness and Adult Attachment. Psychology, 3, 675-680. doi: 10.4236/psych.2012.39102.

Conflicts of Interest

The authors declare no conflicts of interest.

References

[1] Ainsworth, M. D. S., Blehar, M. C, Waters, E., & Wall, S. (1978). Pattern of attachment: A psychological study of the strange situation. New York: Erlbaum.
[2] Bateman, A., & Fonagy, P. (2003). The development of an attachment-based treatment program for borderline personality disorder. Bulletin of the Menninger Clinic, 67, 187-211.doi:10.1521/bumc.67.3.187.23439
[3] Barry, R.A., Lakey, B., & Orehek, E. (2007). Links among attachment dimensions, affect, the self, and perceived support for broadly generalized attachment styles and specific bonds. Personality and Social Psychology Bulletin, 33, 340-353. doi:10.1177/0146167206296102
[4] Belsky, J., & Cassidy, J. (1994). Attachment: Theory and evidence. In M. Rutte, & D. Hay (Eds.), Development through life: A Handbook for Clinicians (pp. 373-402). Oxford: Blackwell.
[5] Bowlby, J. (1969). Attachment and loss, Vol. 1. Attachment. London: Hogarth Press and the Institute of Psycho-Analysis.
[6] Choi-Kain, L.W., & Gunderson, J. G. (2008). Mentalization: Ontogeny, assessment, and application in the treatment of borderline personality disorder. American Journal of Psychiatry, 165, 1127-1135.doi:10.1176/appi.ajp.2008.07081360
[7] Eagle, M. (1997). Attachment and psychoanalysis. British Journal of Medical Psychology, 70, 217-229. doi:10.1111/j.2044-8341.1997.tb01901.x
[8] Elliott, R., Watson, J. C., Goldman, R. N., & Greenberg, L. S. (2004). Learning emotion-focused therapy: The process-experiential approach to change. Washington DC: American Psychological Association. doi:10.1037/10725-000
[9] Feeney, J. (1995). Adult attachment and emotional control. Personal Relationships, 2, 143-159. doi:10.1111/j.1475-6811.1995.tb00082.x
[10] Feeney, J., Noller, P., & Hanrahan, M. (1994). Assessing adult attachment. In M. B. Sperling, & W. H. Berman (Eds.), Attachment in adults (pp. 128-151). New York: The Guilford Press.
[11] Feeney, J., Noller, P., & Roberts, N. (1998). Emotion, attachment, and satisfaction in close relationships. In P. A. Andersen, & L. K. Guerrero (Eds.), Handbook of communication and emotion, research, theory, applications, and contexts (pp. 473-505). London: Academic Press.
[12] Fonagy, P. (2001). Attachment theory and psychoanalysis. New York: Other Press.
[13] Fonagy, P., Gergely, G., Jurist, L.E., & Target, M. (2004). Affect regulation, mentalization, and the development of the self. London: Karnac.
[14] Fonagy, P., Steele, H., Moran, G., Steele, M., & Higgitt, A. (1991). The capacity for understanding mental states: The reflective self in parent and child and its significance for security of attachment. Infant Mental Health Journal, 13, 200-217.
[15] Fonagy, P., & Target, M. (1998). Mentalization and changing aims of child psychoanalysis. Psychoanalytic Dialogues, 8, 87-114. doi:10.1080/10481889809539235
[16] Fosha, D. (2000). The transforming power of affect: A model for accelerated change. New York: Basic Books.
[17] Fraley, R. C. (2002). Attachment stability from infancy to adulthood: Meta-analysis and dynamic modelling of developmental mechanisms. Personality and Social Psychology Review, 6, 123-151.doi:10.1207/S15327957PSPR0602_03
[18] George, C., Kaplan, N., & Main, M. (1985). Adult Attachment Interview. Unpublished manuscript, Berkeley, CA: University of California.
[19] Hayes, S. C., Strosahl, K., & Wilson, K. G. (1999). Acceptance and commitment therapy. New York: Guilford.
[20] Hazan, C., & Shaver, P. R. (1987). Romantic love conceptualized as an attachment process. Journal of Personality and Social Psychology, 52, 511-524. doi:10.1037/0022-3514.52.3.511
[21] H?kanson, A., & Tengstr?m, A. (1996). Attachment Style Questionnaire—?vers?ttning Till Svenska Samt Inledande Utprovning [At- tachment Style Questionnaire—Translation to Swedish and Preliminary Evaluation]. Ume?: Ume? Universitet.
[22] Izard, C. (1991). The psychology of emotions. New York: Plenum Press.
[23] Lech, B., Andersson, G., & Holmqvist, R. (2008). Consciousness about own and others’ affects: A study of the validity of a revised version of the affect consciousness interview. Scandinavian Journal of Psychology, 49, 515-521. doi:10.1111/j.1467-9450.2008.00666.x
[24] Linehan, M. (1987a). Dialectical behavioral therapy: A cognitive behavioral approach to parasuicide. Journal of Personality Disorders, 1, 328-333. doi:10.1521/pedi.1987.1.4.328
[25] Linehan, M. (1987b). Dialectical behavior Therapy for borderline personality disorder: Theory and method. Bulletin of the Menninger Clinic, 51, 261-276.
[26] Linehan, M. (1993). Cognitive behavioral treatment of borderline personality disorder. New York: Guilford Press.
[27] Mikulincer, M. (1998). Adult attachment style and individual differences in functional versus dysfunctional experiences of anger. Journal of Personality and Social Psychology, 74, 513-524.doi:10.1037/0022-3514.74.2.513
[28] Mikulincer, M., & Shaver, P. R. (2005). Attachment theory and emotions in close relationships: exploring the attachment-related dynamics of emotional reactions to relational events. Personal Relationships, 12, 142-168. doi:10.1111/j.1350-4126.2005.00108.x
[29] Mohaupt, H., Holgersen, H., Binder, P.-E., & Nielsen, G. H. (2006). Affect consciousness or mentalization? A comparison of two concepts with regard to affect development and affect regulation. Scandinavian Journal of Psychology, 47, 237-244. doi:10.1111/j.1467-9450.2006.00513.x
[30] Monsen, J., Eilertsen, D. T., Melg?rd, T., & ?deg?rd, P. (1996). Affects and affect consciousness: Initial experiences with the assessment of affect integration. Journal of Psychotherapy Practice and Research, 5, 238-249.
[31] Roisman, G. I., Holland, A., Fortuna, K., Fraley, R. C., Clausell, E., & Clarke, A. (2007). The adult attachment interview and self-reports of attachment style: An empirical rapprochement. Journal of Personality and Social Psychology, 92, 678-697. doi:10.1037/0022-3514.92.4.678
[32] Riggs, S. A., Paulson, A., Tunnell, E., Sahl, G., Atkison, H., & Ross, C. A. (2007). Attachment, personality, and psychopathology among adult inpatients: Self-reported romantic attachment style versus Adult Attachment Interview states of mind. Development and Psychopathology, 19, 263-291. doi:10.1017/S0954579407070149
[33] Safran, J., & Muran, C. (2000). Negotiating the therapeutic alliance: A relational treatment guide. New York: Guilford Press.
[34] Searle, B., & Meara, N. M. (1999). Affective dimensions of attachment styles: Exploring self-reported attachment style, gender, and emotional experience among college students. Journal of Counseling Psychology, 46, 147-158. doi:10.1037/0022-0167.46.2.147
[35] Woodhouse, S. S., & Gelso, C. J. (2008). Volunteer client adult attachment, memory for in-session emotion, and mood awareness: An affect regulation perspective. Journal of Counseling Psychology, 55, 197-208. doi:10.1037/0022-0167.55.2.197

Copyright © 2024 by authors and Scientific Research Publishing Inc.

Creative Commons License

This work and the related PDF file are licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License.