Working Models Of Self Research Articles

Relationship-induced self-concept change and the malleability of attachment security

Romantic relationships have the potential to shape individuals’ self-concepts for better or worse. Because these changes to the self have the potential to modify working models of self and other, they may also be associated with individuals’ levels of attachment security. The current research sought to examine whether relationship-induced self-concept improvement and degradation is associated with attachment security. Across three correlational studies (Studies 1a-1c; overall N = 579) and one experiment (Study 2; N = 196), we found that relationship-induced concept improvement (vs. degradation) is associated with greater state attachment security and lower state attachment avoidance (but not state anxiety). Further, state attachment security and avoidance mediated the association between overall self-concept improvement and relationship quality. Overall, relationship-induced changes to the self-concept appear to modify attachment systems, which cultivate relationship quality.

SUPPORTING CONNECTIONS BETWEEN FIRST MOTHERS AND THEIR UNBORNS: AN ANTIDOTE TO DISSOCIATION?

The old saw in child welfare circles— “A baby is the only living thing without a past, only a future”—was always self-serving. Now we know it was always patently false. The new science in infant mental health and prenatal psychology makes it possible to reconsider the matter of various risks in prenatal life. We are then released to wonder what life is like in there, for example, for a child scheduled to be surrendered for adoption. While we don’t yet proclaim to have special avenues into the mental life of prenates—or even systematic means to investigate it—evidence mounts that there IS such life, that it’s responsive to the mother’s mental life, and that such early and interactive mental life is of consequence for the baby’s later development. While there is still much to learn, we can surely say that it’s incomprehensible that the first nine months of the life of a child whose mom does not intend to keep him is anything but innocuous. What if we considered these questions non-rhetorically and non-judgmentally: “How could a woman ever be expected to forget a baby she had carried for nine months? What would it take to ‘move on’ from the experience…” (Glaser, 2021, p. 4). Might we even conclude that we’re disrespecting first mothers to assume that they pay no attention to what is happening, and have no psychological response to it? And if moms do have a response, is it detectable by the babies within? Finally, are early and primitive working models of self and other created in utero? Might these early working models be brought by the adoptee to his relationship with his adoptive mother? If so, to what effect? This paper focuses on one aspect of the mental life of a mother who intends to surrender her child for adoption: the possibility that she may, as a defense, dissociate—a kind of withdrawal from her own experience—and that such withdrawal may be experienced by the baby as maternal absence and rejection. We will try to show what this experience is like for the unborn, what defenses may be erected, and how such early experience may shape later relationships.

Perceptions of oneself and one’s spouse following a stressor discussion predicting attachment insecurity over one year

The Attachment Security Enhancement Model (ASEM) posits that attachment anxiety decreases when people revise their negative working model of self, whereas attachment avoidance decreases when people revise their negative working model of others. These revisions are expected to occur in diagnostic situations that provide relevant information about the self and close others. Guided by this theory, the current research assessed whether state perceptions of oneself (state self-efficacy, state self-esteem) and of one’s spouse (state perceived partner responsiveness [PPR]) following a personal stressor discussion provide an impetus for changing trait-level perceptions and decreasing the relevant attachment insecurity dimension over time. In a sample of 164 newly married couples, we found that people who reported greater post-discussion state self-efficacy and state self-esteem reported greater increases in trait self-efficacy and trait self-esteem over the following year. These changes to the model of self in turn predicted greater decreases in attachment anxiety over that year, consistent with the ASEM. Regarding perceptions of one’s spouse, neither state nor trait PPR predicted declines in attachment avoidance, and state PPR did not predict changes in trait level perceptions. Finally, we observed some ASEM-inconsistent changes in attachment insecurity: Increases in trait PPR predicted declines in attachment anxiety, and increases in trait self-esteem and self-efficacy predicted declines in attachment avoidance. These findings suggest that personal stressor discussions may catalyze changes in trait perceptions and attachment change. Additionally, this work shows that improving the model of self and the model of others promotes attachment security but that the processes for reducing attachment anxiety and avoidance may not be entirely separable.

The Relevance of Internal Working Models of Self and Others for Equine-Assisted Psychodynamic Psychotherapy.

Attachment characteristics play a key role in mental health and in understanding mental disorders. The aim of this study was to gain insight into the role the attachment characteristics can play in treatment effects in adult patients with intrapsychic and interpersonal problems who underwent Equine-assisted Short-term Psychodynamic Psychotherapy (ESTPP). In the first part of the study, we compared the effects of ESTPP to treatment-as-usual from a previous dataset regarding psychological dysfunction. For this, an explorative experimental non-randomized pre-treatment and 1-year post-treatment design was used. A mixed model revealed a significant decline in psychological dysfunction for both conditions, with no significant difference between the two. In the second part of the study, we examined the course of ESTPP effects over the period of 1 year when controlled for attachment styles and, subsequently, for internal working models of self and others. To this end, measurements were taken at baseline, 2 months waiting time, one-week intensive module, 6 months, and one year after the start of the treatment. Mixed models accounted for repeated measures showed significant improvements in psychological dysfunction, remoralization, and depression for ESTPP patients over time. The study implies that models of self and others may be used to predict the course of effects, which is relevant in determining what works for whom. In particularly, duration and intensity of therapy and a focus on the Model of Self seem relevant for shaping a more personalized treatment. ESTPP seems beneficial for patients with low pre-treatment attachment security.

Rejection sensitivity and vulnerable attachment: associations with social support and PTSD symptoms in trauma survivors

ABSTRACT Background Although social support has been consistently associated with recovery from psychological trauma and prevention of posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD), individual differences in seeking or benefitting from social support in trauma survivors are not well understood. Factors associated with negative internal working models of self and others, emotion dysregulation, and interrupted bonds with an individual’s social support groups such as vulnerable attachment and rejection sensitivity could contribute to lower experienced social support and higher levels of PTSD. Objective The objective of this study was to test a theoretically informed model and investigate how psychosocial variables such as vulnerable attachment styles, rejection sensitivity, and social support are associated with PTSD. Method Using a cross-sectional survey and path analyses in 141 survivors of trauma (aged 18–69, M = 25.20), the relationship between vulnerable attachment style, rejection sensitivity, and PTSD were investigated. Results Higher vulnerable attachment, rejection sensitivity, and lower social support were found to be significant predictors of PTSD symptoms (f 2 = 0.75). The relationships from vulnerable attachment to PTSD were mediated by rejection sensitivity and perceived social support. The results supported and extend theoretical models of PTSD that posit a role for predisposing factors in the development and maintenance of the disorder. Conclusion The findings suggest a potential benefit of identifying vulnerable groups that could benefit from a refinement of existing PTSD interventions by targeting the maladaptive effects of vulnerable attachment and rejection sensitivity, thus allowing the individual to draw effectively on social support networks.

UNUTRAŠNJI RADNI MODELI AFEKTIVNE VEZANOSTI KAO PREDIKTORI MRAČNE TRIJADE

The basic goal of this research was to examine whether internal working models of self and significant others are significant predictors of dark triad personality traits. The concept of an internal working model is the key link in attachment theory which connects past experiences with current patterns of behavior, maintained by dysfunctional cognitive schemas developed by generalizing aversive experiences. The dark triad consists of narcissism, psychopathy and Machiavellism. The instruments used were the Family Attachment Questionnaire by Brenan et al. (1998), and Short Dark Triad (SDT3) by Jones & Paulhus (2014). The sample of the research consisted of N = 123 participants, age 20 to 63, with an average age of M = 30.41, SD = 9.06. Males formed 43% of sample. Regression analyses show that model which consists of anxiety and avoidance dimensions is significant predictor of Machiavellism, F (2,120) = 6.26, p = .003, R2 = .09, and they predict 9% of variance, as well as psychopathy, F(2,120) = 8.98, p <.000, R2 = .13, where they predict 13% of variance, but not narcissism, F(2,120) = 0.24, p = .79, R2= .01, in which model predicted only 1% of variance. Avoidance is statistically significant and positive predictor of psychopathy (β = .29, p = .003), and anxiety is statistically significant and positive predictor of Machiavellism (β = .26, p = .004), as well as psyhopathy (β = .22, p = .025). The results of study suggest that these traits are founded on an image of self as an inadequate person and the world as a hostile place, in which other persons will try to harm us if we dare to be open towards them. Manipulation and emotional insensitivity of psychopaths and Machiavelists should be interpreted as a way to reach compromise with these key beliefs and attitudes. On the other hand, narcissism did not correlate with working modes, possibly because of low levels of insight in these persons who are strongly invested in maintaining grandiose self. Key words: affective attachment, internal working models, dark triad

Restoring the sanctuary of the valued self: Working with post traumatic stress in brief dynamic therapy

Drawing principally from the conceptual framework of Horowitz the author outlines an effective method of working within a short-time frame to enable staff who have been traumatised in their working roles to restore a sense self-coherence and self-esteem with a resulting lessening of symptoms of Post Traumatic Stress. A traumatic event is seen to result in the activation of dormant enduring schemas emanating from childhood that are at odds with established adult internal working models of self and other that hitherto have formed the basis of an individual’s view of himself and others. This in turn results in a disruption to an individual’s sense of a coherent narrative and a concomitant fracturing of the sanctuary of the valued sense of self. Restoring a meaningful and coherent narrative, through processing the story of the trauma, and re-schematising, is highlighted as a key feature of therapeutic restoration. Grieving the loss of meaning that arises from the trauma in a way that is approached carefully to lessen the likelihood of emotional flooding which can otherwise overwhelm defences and retraumatise the client, is also seen to be a key aspect of healing and restoring the sanctuary of the valued self. These themes are illustrated by two case examples and three short vignettes.

Intergenerational Depressive Symptoms and the Impact of Adolescent Attachment: A Systematic Review

John Bowlby’s theory of attachment has inspired numerous studies which have concluded that insecure attachment can contribute to the development of depressive symptoms in adolescents. It has also spurred research confirming that other environmental factors, such as parental depressive symptoms, can contribute to the development of insecure attachment in adolescents. However, few studies have investigated how insecure adolescent attachment works as a mechanism in the relationship between adolescent and parental depressive symptoms. Accordingly, this systematic review was conducted to better ascertain how attachment is related to the development of adolescent depressive symptoms in the context of parental depressive symptoms. Inclusion criteria for this review were met if the child study population had a mean age in our identified “adolescent” range (age 10–19), if depressive symptoms were measured in at least one parent and their adolescent child, and if adolescent attachment was related to (i.e., mediated or moderated) the intergenerational relationship between depressive symptoms. A total of nine studies were identified searching among three databases (APA PsychNET, Academic Search Elite and PubMed) and one search engine (Google Scholar) through March 2020. The overall sample of this review included mothers (N = 1,684), fathers (N = 123), and adolescents (N = 1805). Samples for the original studies were recruited from both clinical and community populations, with clinical samples being determined by both parental and adolescent levels of depressive symptoms in different studies. Attachment was measured as both an internal working model of self or “state of mind” and as a behavior in which a stressed child seeks comfort or support from an attachment figure acting as a “secure base.” Measurements of attachment were taken at varying stages in child development ranging from infancy through adolescence. Additionally, most reviewed studies did not include fathers or much racial or social class diversity. Overall, the review determined that both conceptualizations of attachment (internal working model and support-seeking behavior) successfully mediated or moderated the relationship between maternal and adolescent depressive symptoms.

COPING STRATEGIES AND THE DIMENSIONS OF ATTACHMENT IN STUDENTS

The paper focuses on the relationship between the dimensions of affective attachment and a three-dimensional model of coping strategies (problem-focused coping, emotion-focused coping and avoidance: distraction and social diversion). To analyze this problem, the Coping in Stressful Situations questionnaire (CISS, Endler & Parker, 1990) along with the Questionnaire for Attachment Assessment (UPIPAV -R, Hanak, 2004; Hanak 2011) was used on a sample of 152 students of the Faculty of Philosophy.The results indicate the existence of significant correlations between coping strategies and the dimensions of attachment. Specifically, there is a negative correlation between problem-focused coping and unresolved family trauma, fear of using an outside secure base and a negative working model of self, while there is a positive correlation with the ability to mentalize. There is a positive correlation between emotion-focused coping and distraction strategies, and fear of using an outside secure base, a negative working model of self and negative working model of others, and poor anger management where there is a positive correlation between emotion-focused coping and unresolved family trauma. Finally, there is a negative correlation between social diversion and unresolved trauma, and a negative working model of self and a positive one between fear of using an outside secure base. The results of the regression analysis indicate that the aforementioned dimensions of affective attachment, as predictors explain 21,1% of the variance of problem-focused coping, 13,3% of the variance of the distraction strategy, 24,6% of the variance of the strategy of social diversion, and as much as 49,9% of the variance of emotion-focused coping.Even though drawing any conclusions requires a greater sample, we could say that the participants are more prone to maladaptive coping if they display more pronounced dimensions of affective attachment typical of insecure patterns of attachment (a negative working model of self and a negative working model of others, unresolved family trauma, fear of using an outside secure base and poor anger management).

Mental representation of self in relationships indirectly affects young Black women’s engagement in risky sexual behaviors through psychosocial HIV/STI risk factors

ABSTRACTBlack females are disproportionately affected by human immunodeficiency virus (HIV)/sexually transmitted infections (STIs), though individual-level sexual risk factors do not appear to explain racial/ethnic HIV incidence rate disparities. The current study examined the roles of attachment representations, working models of self and others, with psychosocial risk factors related to population-level sexual network features in association with risky sexual behaviors. A total of 560 Black emerging adult females (M age = 20.58, SD = 1.89) enrolling in a behavioral HIV prevention intervention trial completed the baseline assessment used in the current analyses. A series of multiple mediator models examined indirect effects of working models of self and others on sexual risk engagement through the following psychosocial HIV/STI risk factors: (a) partner communication self-efficacy, (b) fear of condom negotiation, (c) peer norms for risky sexual behavior, (d) partner trust and (e) sex-related alcohol expectancies. Results indicated an indirect effect of working model of self on the following: condom use with boyfriend/main partner through peer norms for risky sex (ab = .08, 95% CI [.02, .17]), any alcohol use prior to sex through peer norms for risky sex (ab = −.06, 95% CI [−.12, −.02]) and alcohol use prior to sex through sex-related alcohol expectancies (ab = −.13, 95% CI [−.21, −.05]). Findings provided evidence of a direct association between working model of self and each psychosocial HIV/STI risk factor included in the mediation models. Working model of self may help identify Black females at elevated risk for HIV/STI through these psychosocial risk factors.

Erikson and the Relational Context of Identity: Strengthening Connections With Attachment Theory

ABSTRACT In our contribution to this special issue devoted to reflections on Erik Erikson’s theorizing in Identity Youth and Crisis, 50 years later, we present the value of integrating attachment theory with Erikson’s conceptualization of identity development within a dynamic relational context. We attend closely to how internal working models of self and other link with identity development across time and relationships. We describe how attachment security, initially developed in early childhood, sets the stage for how adolescents’ approach identity formation processes and how both identity and attachment security operate together throughout adulthood. Three streams of research are offered for empirical examination of the identity-relational interface to elucidate processes and products of the intricate dance of identity and attachment.

Considering Attachment and Partner Perceptions in the Prediction of Physical and Emotional Sexual Satisfaction

IntroductionAttachment theory provides a framework for understanding sexual satisfaction; in general, research suggests that attachment anxiety and avoidance are associated with decreased sexual satisfaction. Given their different working models of self and other, perceptions of the partner's level of satisfaction might differentially influence people's own perceptions of satisfaction based on their attachment avoidance and anxiety. AimTo examine the predictive value of attachment anxiety and avoidance and perceptions of partner satisfaction in predicting physical and emotional satisfaction after sexual interactions in two studies. MethodsParticipants (study 1, n = 52; study 2, n = 144) completed a one-time survey containing a measurement of attachment and then reported on their physical and emotional sexual satisfaction after each sexual interaction over the course of 2 to 3 weeks. Main Outcome MeasuresThe Experiences in Close Relationships Scale–Revised was completed during the one-time survey, and ratings of personal physical and emotional sexual satisfaction (studies 1 and 2) and perceptions of partner's physical and emotional satisfaction were completed after sexual interactions (study 2). ResultsGreater attachment avoidance was associated with lesser physical and emotional satisfaction. Moreover, when perceiving the partner to be emotionally satisfied, people with more attachment avoidance reported less emotional satisfaction for themselves. For greater attachment anxiety, greater perceived partner satisfaction (physical and emotional) predicted greater personal satisfaction of the two types. ConclusionThe findings support attachment theory as a valuable lens through which to study sexual satisfaction. Moreover, the results suggest that it is important to consider perceptions of partner sexual satisfaction in understanding the sexual satisfaction of people who demonstrate attachment anxiety and avoidance.

Adult attachment internal working model of self and other in Chinese culture: Measured by the Attachment Style Questionnaire — Short Form (ASQ-SF) by confirmatory factor analysis (CFA) and item response theory (IRT)

According to the study by Griffin and Bartholomew (1994), in Western context, the adult attachment internal working model was found to consist two components: (i) the self model, and (ii) the other model. The current study was grounded on Griffin's and Bartholomew's study to investigate the adult internal working model of self and other in Chinese context. Moreover, by confirmatory factor analysis (CFA) and item response theory (IRT), the Attachment Style Questionnaire (ASQ; Van Oudenhoven et al., 2001) was condensed to become the ASQ — Short Form. In addition, the four attachment prototypes, namely, secure, fearful-avoidant, preoccupied and dismissing as well as the adult internal working model of self and other were found to be present in Chinese culture.

Exploring the relationship difficulties of Iranian adolescents with conduct disorder: a qualitative content analysis

Conduct disorder is characterized by aggressive behaviors, deceitfulness or theft, destruction of property and serious violations of rules prior to age 18 years. The object relations theory provides an integrative model to understand the problems of conduct disorder, and proposes that child-caregiver relationships develop the internal working models of self and others. The aim of this study was to explore the relationship difficulties of Iranian adolescents with conduct disorder. This study was a qualitative directed content analysis research. The in-depth interview was conducted with nine male adolescents aged 12-17 years who had conduct disorder with or without substance use disorder at the reformatory in Tehran. All tape-recorded data were fully transcribed and analyzed. The relations with different objects including parents, siblings, relatives, friends, peers, teachers, other school members, colleagues and employers were analyzed, and four themes were extracted: 1) Object relations based on insecurity and fear; 2) Object relations based on inability and abjection; 3) Object relations based on pessimism and mistrust; 4) Object relations based on non-maintenance of boundaries and limits. The importance of object relations and attachment problems in adolescents with conduct disorder, and their need to participate in special intervention programs should be reconsidered.

The effects of adult attachment style on post‐transgression response

AbstractTwo studies examined the relation between adult attachment styles and post‐transgression responses. Secure participants were predicted to be forgiving, preoccupied participants to be grudge oriented, fearful participants to be avoidant, and dismissing participants to be vengeful. Study 1 was nonexperimental, using a community sample of adults (N = 565). Participants wrote about a moderately severe past transgression. Results supported the predictions. In Study 2, undergraduates' (N = 134) attachment styles were manipulated by varying working models of self and other. Model of self was manipulated with false performance feedback. Model of other was manipulated by altering a confederate's availability and responsiveness during a bonding exercise. Response trends replicated Study 1 with the exception of avoidance. Dismissing individuals were the most avoidant.

Attachment in Middle Childhood: Associations With Information Processing.

Attachment theory suggests that internal working models of self and significant others influence adjustment during development by controlling information processing and self-regulation. We provide a conceptual overview on possible mechanisms linking attachment and information processing and review the current literature in middle childhood. Finally, we discuss and suggest future directions for research in this field.

Insecure attachment and depressive symptoms: Forgiveness of self and others as moderators

AbstractMost of the research on forgiveness has examined forgiveness of others, but not forgiveness of self even though researchers have argued that the latter deserves more attention. To fill this gap in the literature, and based on attachment theory's internal working models of self and others, this study examined forgiveness of self and others as moderators in the association between insecure attachment and depressive symptoms. A total of 403 undergraduate students participated in the study. Results supported the moderator role of forgiveness of self. Specifically, at high levels of forgiveness of self, the association between insecure attachment (i.e., anxiety and avoidant attachment) and depressive symptoms was not significant. The results did not support forgiveness of others as a moderator.

Attachment anxiety moderates the relationship between childhood maltreatment and attention bias for emotion in adults

Research indicates that some individuals who were maltreated in childhood demonstrate biases in social information processing. However, the mechanisms through which these biases develop remain unclear—one possible mechanism is via attachment-related processes. Childhood maltreatment increases risk for insecure attachment. The internal working models of self and others associated with insecure attachment may impact the processing of socially relevant information, particularly emotion conveyed in facial expressions. We investigated associations among child abuse, attachment anxiety and avoidance, and attention biases for emotion in an adult population. Specifically, we examined how self-reported attachment influences the relationship between childhood abuse and attention bias for emotion. A dot probe task consisting of happy, threatening, and neutral female facial stimuli was used to assess possible biases in attention for socially relevant stimuli. Our findings indicate that attachment anxiety moderated the relationship between maltreatment and attention bias for happy emotion; among individuals with a child abuse history, attachment anxiety significantly predicted an attention bias away from happy facial stimuli.

Povezanost dimenzija partnerskog afektivnog vezivanja i globalnog samopoštovanja

The research refers to a possible link between the dimensions of partner affective attachment (avoidance and anxiety), operationalized by questionnaire PAV, and the global self-esteem measured by The Rosenberg Self-Esteem Scale. Research was conducted on a sample of 120 students of the University of Nis. Results show the statistically significant low negative correlation between global self-esteem and dimension avoidance, and the statistically significant medium negative correlation between global self-esteem and dimension anxiety. The results also show that respondents with secure attachment pattern and dismissing pattern (positive inner working model of self) have a higher degree of global self-esteem than respondents with disorganized pattern and preoccupied pattern (negative inner working model of self). .

The Importance of Object Memories for Older Adults

The memories of treasured objects are essential in giving life meaning. In the process of development in later adulthood, most changes involve significant loss including loss of physical and mental ability, loss of family and friends, and loss of possessions. Objects and their associated memories are especially important in maintaining an internal working model of self. This study explores the roles and functions of object memories in the lives of elders in a residential home. An interview process is used to examine the functions and memories of objects for elderly men and women. These objects and memories became the means of communicating the substance, meaning, and justification of a life history. Good long-term care facilities are places where the elderly are respected and allowed and encouraged to have personal items.