The Contributions of Attachment and Caregiving Orientations to Living a Meaningful Life

Abstract

This study adopted Bowlby's (1982) behavioral systems perspective on meaning in life by focusing on two behavioural systems discussed by Bowlby: attachment and caregiving. Three hypotheses were formulated: 1) attachment orientations will predict meaning in life; 2) caregiving orientations will predict meaning in life; 3) attachment will moderate the associations between caregiving and sense of meaning in life. Three hundred thirteen adults completed self-report scales measuring attachment, caregiving, and two aspects of meaning in life (presence of meaning and searching for meaning). Results indicated that attachment insecurities (anxiety and avoidance), caregiving deactivation, and the interaction between attachment anxiety and caregiving deactivation contributed uniquely to the prediction of meaning in life. In addition, religiosity contributed significantly to the presence of meaning. Finally, attachment anxiety and caregiving deactivation predicted searching for meaning. The study shows that a behavioral systems perspective can contribute to the literature on meaning in life.

A Temperament-Attachment-Mentalization-Based (TAM) Theory of Personality and Its Disorders

“…The crucial point for defining attachment as a personality constituent is that individuals are highly different in this respect and that these differences have huge consequences for their life trajectory, including emotion regulation, interpersonal functioning, and well-being (Reizer et al., 2013; Bo and Kongerslev, 2017; Mikulincer and Shaver, 2018).…”

The avoidance cocoon: Examining the interplay between attachment and caregiving in predicting relationship satisfaction

“…A hyperactivated caregiver exaggerates the needs and wishes of others for help in the hope of being able to jump in and save them and/or to insist intrusively on helping (Carnelley, Pietromonaco, & Jaffe, 1996;Feeney, 1996;Kunce & Shaver, 1994). A deactivated caregiver, instead, has negative conceptions of care, low empathy and compassion toward others, and fewer helping behaviors (Reizer, Dahan, & Shaver, 2013;Shaver et al, 2010). People low in both deactivation and hyperactivation are marked by sensitive and responsive care (Kunce & Shaver, 1994;Shaver et al, 2010).…”

“…Conversely, a person's attachment characteristics develop through a series of interactions with caregivers. Thus, people may be securely attached but still possess negative caregiving beliefs or strategies that lead them not to provide optimal care (Reizer et al, ; Reizer & Mikulincer, ).…”

OCB-Work-Family Facilitation: Is It Positive for All Attachment Orientations?

“…These individuals strive to maintain self-reliance and tend to downplay their distress and sense of vulnerability (Mikulincer and Shaver, 2017). Furthermore, individuals with higher levels of avoidance orientation prefer to keep others at a distance, tend to distrust others, and express indifference toward other people (Mikulincer, 1998;Reizer et al, 2012Reizer et al, , 2013Mikulincer and Shaver, 2017).…”