Long-term consequences of childhood attachment: Implications for counselling adolescents

Abstract

Abstract. The theory of attachment draws on several lines of thought to create an integrated body of knowledge about human emotional development. Attachment theory is particularly concerned with the development of human emotions from a life span perspective (Ainsworth, 1991), hypothesizing that observable behaviour is directed by people's emotions, specifically in relation to important figures within their lives. A recent and essential focus for the development of the theory of attachment is that of its long-term implications. Considerable empirical support has been provided for the premise of the implications of attachment security in childhood for psychological maladies in adolescence. The present article focuses on these long-terna implications of childhood attachment and presents both an argument for pursuing family therapy when working with adolescent clients and a model for counselling such families based on an attachment perspective.The theory of attachment (Bowlby, 1969) draws on several lines of thought to create an integrated body of knowledge about human emotional development. Attachment theory is particularly concerned with the development of human emotions from a life span perspective (Ainsworth, 1991), hypothesizing that observable behaviour is directed by people's emotions, emotions specifically in relation to important figures within their lives. Empirical findings from numerous countries of various cultures demonstrate clearly that attachment behaviour is an instinctual process within all people, is as basic as the seeking of food and always results in the formation of some type of attachment

Attachment and hikikomori: A psychosocial developmental model

“…As mentioned in our overview of attachment, maternal sensitivity is essential to the development of secure attachment (Bowlby, 1969), and much empirical evidence supports this claim (Cunha, Soares, Pinto-Gouveia, 2008; Goldsmith & Alansky, 1987; Isabella, 1993). Additionally, parental behaviour associated with anxious and ambivalent attachment in children includes parents being overprotective and controlling (Vertue, 2003) as well as threatening and rejecting (Genuis, 1994; Scher, 2000). Other parental factors that affect anxious attachment are regular non-parental care, parental neglect, lack of physical proximity, threats of abandonment or harm, family instability and sexual abuse (Genuis, 1994).…”

“…Additionally, parental behaviour associated with anxious and ambivalent attachment in children includes parents being overprotective and controlling (Vertue, 2003) as well as threatening and rejecting (Genuis, 1994; Scher, 2000). Other parental factors that affect anxious attachment are regular non-parental care, parental neglect, lack of physical proximity, threats of abandonment or harm, family instability and sexual abuse (Genuis, 1994). In Hattori’s 2005 study, the majority of hikikomori clients reported negative and rejecting experiences with their parents although no direct measures of attachment were used.…”