20041125

Been reading up on attachment theory.
Bartholomew and Horowitz (1991) make the case for four attachment
patterns in a model of adult attachment. According to this model, two
dimensions are divided into positive and negative sides: model of Self,
and model of Other. As a result four typical patterns can result:

.............MODEL OF SELF..................
.................(dependence).................

...........Positive ........... Negative......
.............(Low) ............... (High).......
_______________________________
| .....SECURE ......| .PREOCCUPIED. | ......Positive (Low).....
_______________________________.......MODEL OF OTHER (avoidance)
| ..DISMISSING...| ....FEARFUL ...... | ......Negative (High)..
_______________________________

In the fearful version a person has a negative view of both self and
others, finding it difficult to be intimate and avoiding social
relations. The secure type is comfortable both with intimacy and
independence. In their words, the secure type expects others to be
responsive and trustworthy, and have a sense of their own lovability.
The opposite is the case in the fearful type who anticipates rejection
and does not feel lovable.

Further, all four types showed a notable correlation with childhood
reports - implying the strong impact of childhood relations. Whilst at
the same time the extent of the correlations suggested that later life
experiences may have brought about changes.

Of specific interest are the in-between types - the dismissing type had
the highest self-confidence of all types during research. They are
dismissive of intimacy with others. This was interesting to me, as I've
noticed that I tend to be dismissive sometimes and shun intimacy (even
while suspecting that it is for selfprotection purposes). Nevertheless
I do not entirely identify with this type. In fact I don't wholly
identify with any, and if at all, usually only with one or two aspects
(Bartholomew and Horowitz also found few subjects who fitted neatly
into any category).

The second in-between type, the preoccupied type, has a fairly low view
of the self but high regard for others. Preoccupied with relationships,
and easily make themselves dependent. Problems with autonomy but not
intimacy. Interestingly, this is the only pattern that showed a strong
gender correlation - women more frequently showed this trend than men.

In general, and under more or less ideal circumstances I make a fairly
reasonable conclusion and say that - for lasting, healthy relationships
- the secure type is the best model to strive for.

Of particular interest to me is how - especially if traits of the other
types are evident - one can change the dismissive and preoccuppied
tendencies (surely often deeply rooted) and enable greater relationship
potential.

Of course, this is given the assumption that the secure pattern is a
kind of ideal.

There then, watch this space.