LITERATURE REVIEWOF

TEN RESEARCH STUDIES

IS THERE A CONNECTION BETWEENATTACHMENT DISORDERS

ANDPSYCHOPATHY?

DEFINITIONS

Psychopathy: “a personality disorder characterized by a constellation

of traits including interpersonal affective features and antisocial features” (Gao, Raine, Chan, Venables, & Mednick, 2010).

Attachment Disorder: Demonstrated by an inability to have close relationships.

Definitions continued

Reflective Functioning: An ability to see and think about mental states in oneself and others (Bouchard, et al. 2008).

Research Study#1

by Becker-Weidman, 2009

Effects of Early Maltreatment on Development: A Descriptive Study using the Vineland Adaptive Scales II

Effects of Early Maltreatment on Development

Determined that adopted and foster children showed a lower average developmental age (4.4 years vs actual average age of 9.9 years), and that there is a higher prevalence of Posttraumatic Stress Disorder with this population

Challenges with this Study

Small sample sizeParticipants already identified as at-riskResults gained from self-reports

Research Study#2

Abrams, Rifkin, & Hesse, 2009.

Examining the Rule of Parental Frightened/Frightening Subtypes in Predicting Disorganized Attachment within a Brief Observational Procedure.

Examining the Role of Parental Frightened/Frightening Subtypes in Predicting Disorganized Attachment

Showed that dissociative problems among mothers have children with a higher level of disorganizational attachment.

Challenges with this Study

Participants were psychology studentsSample made up of mostly CaucasiansResults from self-reports

Research Study#3

Bouchard, et al. 2008

Mentalization in Adult Attachment Narratives: Reflective Functioning, Mental States, and Affect Elaboration Compared

Mentalization in Adult Attachment Narratives

Proved that mothers with low reflective functioning had a correlation with children with Axis I and Axis II diagnoses.

Challenges with this Study

Small sample sizeParticipants identified as at-riskParticipants were psychology studentsSample largely CaucasianResults from self-reports

Research Study #4

Doron, Moulding, Kyrios, Nedeljkovik, Mikulincer, 2009

Adult Attachment Insecurities are Related to Obsessive Compulsive

Phenomena

Adult Attachment Insecurities

Demonstrated that there is a correlation between Obsessive Compulsive Disorder and avoidant and anxious attachment styles.

Challenges with the Study

Participants were psychology studentsSample largely CaucasianResults from self-reportsEarly attachment styles not measured

Research Study#5

Gao, Raine, Chan, Venables, & Mednick, 2010

Early Maternal and Paternal Bonding, Childhood Physical Abuse, and Adult

Psychological Functioning

Early Maternal and Paternal Bonding

Found that psychopathy scores were higher among those who had experienced a lack of attachment.

Challenges with this Study

Unable to distinguish between genetic influences and social experiences.Results from self-reports

Research Study #6

Johnson, Lui, & Cohen, 2011

Parenting Behaviours Associated with the Development of Adaptive and

Maladaptive Offspring Personality Traits.

Parenting Behaviours

Discovered that paternal bonding is important in healthy childrearing, and that behavior modification in parents leads to healthier children.

Challenges with this Study

Results from self-reportsFathers not directly interviewed, mothers provided the information required for the study.

Research Study#7

Wei, Vogel, Tsun- Yao, & Zakalik, 2005

Adult Attachment, Affect Regulation, Negative Mood, and Interpersonal Problems: The Mediating Roles of

Emotional Reactivity and Emotional Cutoff.

Adult Attachment, Affect Regulation, Negative Mood, and Interpersonal Problems

At-risk mothers have a lower level of self-confidence about child-rearing, which leads to depression in the mother and poor bonding with infants.

Challenges with this Study

Results from self-reportsFew participants from ethnic minority groupsParticipants were studentsMost participants were female

Research Study#8

Wei, Heppner, Russell, & Young, 2008

Maladaptive Perfectionism and Ineffective Coping as Mediators between

Attachment and Future Depression.

Maladaptive Perfectionism and Ineffective Coping as Mediators

Explored the possibility of attachment styles being mediating factors in future mental health challenges.

Challenges with this Study

Results are from self-reportsParticipants young, Caucasian students

Research Study#9

Lopez & Hsu, 2002

Further Validation of a Measure of Parent-Adult Attachment Style.

Further Validation of a Measure of Parent-Adult Attachment Style

While studying parent-adult attachment styles, these researchers found that most had a healthy attachment style. Those who had attachment difficulties with only one parent, showed the same amount of maladaptive behavior as those who had difficulties with both parents.

Challenges with this Study

Results from self-reportsGender imbalanceParticipants were students from a single collegeStudents from divorced/separated families were

overrepresentedSmall sample size

Research Study#10

Mikulincer, Ein-Dor, Solomon & Shaver, 2011

Trajectories of Attachment Insecurities over a 17-Year Period: A Latent Growth Curve

Analysis of the Impact of War Captivity and Posttraumatic Stress Disorder.

Trajectories of Attachment

This study researched the effects on prisoners of war and attachment style and posttraumatic stress disorder. The control group was made up of those soldiers who had not been captured. The POWs showed an increased disturbance of attachment styles and PTSD.

Challenges with this Study

Results from self-reportsResults were not taken either before or immediately after war

Future Research Opportunities

Use larger, more diverse samplingsResearch specific definition of Attachment DisordersDiscern specific causes of Attachment DisordersDevelop observational testing to back up self-

reportsResearch those who are not already at-risk