States of Mind With Respect to Adult Attachment and Reflective Functioning in a Sample of Men Detained for Stalking: Evaluation and Clinical Implications

Abstract

The efficacy of treatment for stalkers might depend on identifying peculiarities in the life stories of members of this population and their specific needs. We interviewed 14 Italian male stalkers between 27 and 78 years old ( M = 44.5 years) detained in two northwest Italian correctional facilities. We aimed to investigate two main aspects: First, we evaluated the subjects’ states of mind (SoMs) with respect to early attachment using the Adult Attachment Interview. Second, we assessed the possible recurrence of narrative clusters between the narratives of these offenders, whom we also interviewed about their persecutory acts, using the Index Offense Interview. The results indicated that the vast majority of the stalkers in our sample had a dismissing SoM with respect to their early attachment, as well as many unresolved traumas. Furthermore, by comparing their narratives, we outlined six narrative themes: (a) the perception of rejection as a main motivational factor, (b) the representation of the self as right and as a victim of others’ behaviors, (c) a lack of impulse control, (d) the idealization of attachment figures, (e) intense separation anxiety, and (f) a personal theory about stalking. Given this population’s high recurrence rates following detention, the study of which adult attachment representations are linked with the stalking phenomenon and which critical themes are present in stalkers’ narratives may improve clinical interventions for this specific population.

Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing in Child and Adolescent Psychology: a Narrative Review

“…For these reasons, it is vital to break the vicious circle of intergenerational transmission of violent patterns, and many studies have proven EMDR therapy's efficacy in cases of domestic violence on the part of both parents and children [74,[79][80][81]. All these results support EMDR as an effective treatment modality for survivors of sexual and domestic violence and highlight the need for its inclusion in clinical and supportive programs [82][83][84]. EMDR therapy is a promising approach, highlighting behavioral improvement in subjects coupled with a reduction in levels of anxiety, depression, and posttraumatic symptoms.…”

Cognitive mechanisms in a sample of detained stalkers: Evaluation of dissociative tendencies, impaired reflective function, and ruminative thought.

“…The AAI and the IOI were recorded and transcripted verbatim; then, the identities of participants were anonymized using a label, using the IPA methodology. Administration processes and coding procedure of these two interview were described elsewhere (Civilotti et al, 2020).…”

“…All were heterosexual. States of mind with respect to adult attachment and narrative themes that emerged in this sample are described in Civilotti et al (2020). In brief, most of our sample had a dismissive state of mind with respect to their early attachment, as well as many unresolved traumas.…”

Post-Traumatic Play in Child Victims of Adverse Childhood Experiences: A Pilot Study with the MCAST—Manchester Child Attachment Story Task and the Coding of PTCP Markers

“…The administration of the MCAST required only one videotaped meeting with the prior consent of the caregiver. The coding system, with an inter-coder evaluation procedure, is based on the revision of the video recording and involves the use of scales relating to the following four fundamental dimensions: 1. the attachment behavior represented during the play; 2. consistency in the narrative; 3. the presence of disorganization phenomena; and 4. the capacity for mentalization and metacognition [ 13 , 29 ]. The coding is specific for each scale (in turn structured into different subscales) and the main measurements used in the research are (a) the strategy used/attachment classification; (b) the D score; and (c) derived codes, such as Safe/Insecure and D/not D.…”