Categorical or Dimensional: How Do Attachment Measures Inform Clinicians in Couple Therapy?

Abstract

Self-report measures of adult romantic attachment have been widely used in research but their application in clinical practice has not been adequately examined. One important issue is the selection of a practical and reliable attachment measure that therapists can rely on in couple therapy. In the present study, the three-category Attachment Style Prototype (Hazan & Shaver, 1987) representing the original classic conceptualization of attachment, and the Experiences in Close Relationships (Brennan, Clark, & Shaver, 1998), a more recent scale with two dimensions representing a new conceptualization, were compared. Experiences in Close Relationships data were also used to establish four clusters based on the scores of the two dimensions. The Experiences in Close Relationships and Attachment Style Prototype categories were related in meaningful ways; however, Attachment Style Prototype was less effective in detecting a group of insecurely attached individuals who tended to self-identify as securely attached. Experiences in Close Relationships clearly shows an advantage over Attachment Style Prototype in clinical application, and therefore was recommended. Examples of the clinical utilization of Experiences in Close Relationships in couple therapy were provided using Experiences in Close Relationships scores from couples seeking therapy.