Attachment Theory as a Social-Developmental Psychopathology Framework for the Practice of Psychotherap Flashcards
List and describe the 4 childhood attachment styles that are described in this chapter.
1) Secure
-Parents consistently available, warm, responsive, maintain high standards for children’s behaviors
-Confidence in caregiver availability
-Secure base→ focus energies exploring
Insecure:
2) Anxious
-Parents inconsistent
-Children hyper-vigilant for rejection cues
-Chronic states of attachment anxiety, regulation issues
3) Dismissing (Avoidant)
-Expressions of need and negative emotional displays met consistently with parental rebuke/punishment
-Deactivation of attachment system
Forgo asking parents for attention, comfort, support, Suppress emotional experience/expression
3) Disorganized
-Parents nonresponsive, frightened, or frightening: Psychopathology, abuse, neglect
-Children struggle to regulate emotions and feel sense of security
-Inconsistent behavioral response patterns
-Worst mental health outcomes
What are the three stages of emotionally focused couples therapy described in this chapter?
1) Deescalation: deescalating negative cycles and increasing emotional engagement by helping partners see how their interactions isolate both of them and lead to attachment injuries
2) Restructuring Interactions: therapist helps create tasks and “key bonding events” wherein the spouse whose attachment needs are not being met can ask appropriately, without blame and accusations, for comfort and reassurance. The other more withdrawn spouse then can be assisted by the therapist to respond empathically and demonstrate supportiveness. These events help create more secure attachment bonds by reframing the interpersonal attachment patterns and reprocessing negative emotions.
3) Consolidation: attempts are made to generalize changed relational patterns to the couple’s daily life. The overall goal of the intervention is to redefine the relationship as a secure base in which distress can be ameliorated, conflicts can be dealt with directly, and challenges in rela- tion to others can be overcome.
