Significant Differences in Personality Styles of Securely and Insecurely Attached Psychotherapists: Data, Reflections and Implications

Abstract

This is a contribution to the research on the therapist variable aiming to improve effectiveness of psychotherapy. It is shown that attachment styles shape personality styles of psychotherapists in a favorable or unfavorable manner. Data on personality (PSDI) and attachment (RSQ) styles was collected from 430 psychological psychotherapists of the DACH countries using an online survey. The 88 insecurely attached psychotherapists differed significantly from their 342 securely attached colleagues in 9 of 14 personality styles: They were -even though well within normal range -more paranoid, borderline, schizoid, dependent, negativistic, selfsacrificing, avoidant, and depressive, as well as less optimistic. This corresponds to results of other researchers. Data regarding their effectiveness was not available. It is argued that a secure attachment style predispose to be a good psychotherapist. Yet, insecurely attached psychotherapists possibly compensate their adverse traits through self-therapy, continuous education, and supervision.

Replication Studies on Significant Differences in Personality Profiles of Securely and Insecurely Attached Psychotherapists and Dentists

“…Additionally, as the DACH 2 and the MEG samples in the majority were composed of psychotherapists and clinical practitioners, we were curious to find similar personality/attachment profiles in other healthcare providers with another profession, such as dentists. Therefore, we were mainly interested in whether the relationship between attachment and personality styles found in the preceding attachment study by Peter and Böbel (2020b) could be replicated in three other samples of the present research (HYP MEG, HYP DGZH, and NONHYP DENT). Accordingly, 14 personality scales were examined for the variable "attachment."…”

“…Mikulincer et al, 2013;Cologon et al, 2017;Heinonen and Nissen-Lie, 2019). Peter and Böbel (2020b) found that the 20% insecurely attached differed significantly from the 80% securely attached in nine of 14 personality styles in such a way that one could conclude that the insecurely attached were not good psychotherapists. In three of four styles in the first group of personality styles that had identified as necessary for a good psychotherapeutic relationship are PN, BL, and SZ; they showed significantly worse scores than the securely attached did.…”

“…For reasons of care, one special feature of the MEG sample of this study should be pointed out. A subgroup from this MEG listserv dataset (N = 490), namely the 212 psychological psychotherapists, had already been used for the preceding attachment study by Peter and Böbel (2020b) (DACH 2 in Figure 2), which serves as a reference study for the present investigation. Thus, for the present study, we first determined whether these 212 psychological psychotherapists differed from the remaining 278 MEG participants of different professions.…”

“…One other focus of these further studies was to find confirmation data for a special personality profile of people who are interested in hypnosis and practice it in their healthcare professions. For people with such a personality FIGURE 1 | Significant differences in the preceding reference study by Peter and Böbel (2020b) between 342 securely and 88 insecurely attached psychological psychotherapists in nine of 14 personality styles. The non-significant differences are labeled ns (t-values are plotted on the y-axis; mean is t = 50; normal range is between t = 40 and t = 60; ns: not significant).…”

“…interpreted these styles as helpful for the professional social skills of psychotherapists, i.e., they were neither submissive nor critical, neither excessively helpful nor too self-critical, and neither passive nor too self-assertive. Peter and Böbel (2020b) investigated whether there may be differences between securely and insecurely attached psychotherapists. The concept of attachment originating from Bowlby (1969) states that the attachment behavior of a person is formed in early mother-child interaction and shapes the ability of a person to relate to others throughout life.…”