Frightening Maternal Behavior, Infant Disorganization, and Risks for Psychopathology

Jacobvitz, Deborah; Hazen-Swann, Nancy L; Zaccagnino, Maria; Messina, Serena; Beverung, Lauren M.

doi:10.1002/9781118036600.ch8

Cited by 2 publications

(1 citation statement)

References 73 publications

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“…The exposure to frightened or frightening parenting behaviors as well as the failure of the parent to terminate the child's activation of the attachment system contribute to create a chronic hyperarousal of the attachment system that leads to attachment disorganization (Cyr et al, 2010). The results of several studies support this theoretical model, showing significant associations between unresolved trauma/disorganized attachment states of mind, frightened/frightening or dysregulated caregiving behaviors and infant/child attachment disorganization (Jacobvitz et al, 2006(Jacobvitz et al, , 2011Lyons-Ruth et al, 1999;Madigan, Bakermans-Kranenburg, et al, 2006Schuengel et al, 1999).…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 85%

Hostile‐helpless states of mind: A scoping review of risk factors, correlates, and consequences

Turgeon

Milot

St‐Laurent

et al. 2022

Infant Mental Health Journal

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Chronic relational trauma can lead to the formation of pervasively unintegrated attachment representations in adulthood, referred to as Hostile‐Helpless (HH) states of mind. Individuals with this type of attachment disorganization evidence conflicting evaluations of caregivers and have difficulty reflecting on their traumatic childhood experiences. This scoping review is the first to systematically integrate the results of all empirical studies on HH states of mind in an effort to highlight the scientific and clinical contributions of the concept and guide future research. Following Arksey and O'Malley's (2005) Methodological Framework, cross‐reference keywords were searched in three databases (PsycArticles, Psychology and Behavioral Sciences Collection, ProQuest). In total, 19 studies met inclusion criteria and were included in the synthesis. Results suggest that prevalence rates of HH states of mind increase as a function of adults' psychosocial risk status. Findings also reveal that the long‐term consequences of early trauma are greater in the presence of a HH state of mind, whereas the absence of a HH state of mind acts as a protective factor against the intergenerational transmission of maladaptation. Finally, results support the discriminant validity of the HH classification against other forms of attachment disorganization in adulthood. Research gaps and future research directions are discussed.

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Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 85%

Hostile‐helpless states of mind: A scoping review of risk factors, correlates, and consequences

Turgeon

Milot

St‐Laurent

et al. 2022

Infant Mental Health Journal

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Unresolved loss, a risk factor for offspring, predicts event-related potential responses to death-related imagery.

Bahm

Simon-Thomas

Main

et al. 2017

Developmental Psychology

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This study investigates whether individual differences in attachment status can be detected by electrophysiological responses to loss-themed pictures. The Adult Attachment Interview (AAI) was used to identify discourse/reasoning lapses during the discussion of loss experiences via death that place speakers in the Unresolved/disorganized AAI category. In parents, Unresolved AAI status has been associated with Disorganized infant Strange Situation response, a known risk factor for psychopathology (e.g., internalizing/externalizing/dissociation). This association has been related to anomalous frightening (FR) parental behavior in the infant's presence, behavior presumed to be instigated by vulnerability to trauma-related fright. Here, psychophysiological methods were utilized to examine whether Unresolved AAI status could be detected in brain responses to subtle/symbolic reminders of loss. One year after AAI administration, 31 undergraduate women who had experienced loss (16 Unresolved) underwent continuous electroencephalogram (EEG) recording during a picture-viewing, valence-rating task. Picture onset-locked event-related potentials (ERPs) revealed millisecond responses to 4 picture categories: pleasant people, pleasant nature, cemetery (symbolic death), and gruesome death (dead or dying people). Participants' valence ratings did not differ between groups across picture categories. However, the N2 ERP, implicated in detecting stimulus salience, was selectively greater in Unresolved participants viewing cemetery scenes; it was in fact as high as the N2 for gruesome death images observed throughout the sample. Additionally, Unresolved participants exhibited a right-hemispheric P3 asymmetry across picture categories, suggestive of continuously heightened vigilance/arousal. Together, these results suggest that Unresolved AAI status is associated with greater neurophysiological sensitivity to subtle reminders of loss that may disrupt ongoing mental function. (PsycINFO Database Record

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Frightening Maternal Behavior, Infant Disorganization, and Risks for Psychopathology

Cited by 2 publications

References 73 publications

Hostile‐helpless states of mind: A scoping review of risk factors, correlates, and consequences

Hostile‐helpless states of mind: A scoping review of risk factors, correlates, and consequences

Unresolved loss, a risk factor for offspring, predicts event-related potential responses to death-related imagery.

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