Abstract
BackgroundA secure attachment style could promote more intimacy in romantic relationships, while an insecure attachment style could be correlated with less positive romantic relationships in adulthood. Numerous studies have noted that a secure attachment to parents was correlated with lower levels of aggression, whereas insecure attachments were associated with higher levels of aggression. We aimed to investigate the role of the attachment system as a mediator of the expression of aggressiveness during adolescence. Specifically, we considered that the attachment to parents and peers could influence one’s attachment to a romantic partner.MethodsWe empirically tested whether there were relationships of parent and peer attachment on aggressiveness mediated by romantic attachment style. Participants of the study included 411 students.ResultsResults indicated that for males an insecure father-child attachment style seems to be associated with higher levels of anxiety and avoidance in romantic attachments and then with aggressiveness. For females, an insecure mother-child attachment style seems to be associated with higher levels of aggressiveness.ConclusionThe attachment to parents and to peers plays a key role in defining romantic attachment according to gender, and these dimensions in turn tend to affect the levels of aggressiveness.
Highlights
Adolescence is a specific stage of the life cycle characterized by physical and biological changes and by significant psychological, cognitive and social transitions (Sarracino et al, 2011; Gray et al, 2012)
Based on the publications and research presented above, we aimed to investigate the relationship between attachment and aggression: (1) First, we investigated whether attachment to parents and peers could influence one’s attachment to a romantic partner (Hypothesis 1)
An insecure father-child attachment style seems to be associated with higher levels of anxiety and avoidance in romantic attachments and with aggression
Summary
Adolescence is a specific stage of the life cycle characterized by physical and biological changes and by significant psychological, cognitive and social transitions (Sarracino et al, 2011; Gray et al, 2012). Cognitive development increases adolescents’ ability to process information, and it improves their decision-making, self-control and emotional regulation skills. These changes are accompanied by developments in defining one’s own sense of Romantic Attachment and Aggression identity, which includes the ability to understand oneself, selfesteem and self-concept (Wong et al, 2010; Tanti et al, 2011; Gray et al, 2012; Syed and Seiffge-Krenke, 2013). Emotional regulation processes are crucial for adolescents’ development (Wong et al, 2010; Tanti et al, 2011; Syed and Seiffge-Krenke, 2013; Santona and Tognasso, 2017). Studies (Mikulincer and Shaver, 2009) in this field have focused on the establishment of secure bonds with the main caregivers and underlined that these bonds promote the development of characteristics such as selfesteem or emotion regulation. We considered that the attachment to parents and peers could influence one’s attachment to a romantic partner
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