1 Solowoniuk 2010 Lecture 2: Attachment, Love, Loss,Change, and
the Research Project Todays Agenda: a) Select Reading from Oxford
Book of Death b) Introduce Attachment Theory and its Affect on Love
and Loss c) Break d) Completing the RAQ e) Movie application Good
Will Hunting Slide 2 Part 1: Attachment Slide 3 3 Lets not get
ahead of ourselves... What is love? Is the book talking about love
or about attachment? Are they correlated? Slide 4 4 Heres a quote
that I think captures it... Your task is not to seek for love, but
merely to seek and find all the barriers within yourself that you
have built against it. Rumi Slide 5 5 Attachment Theory Definition
of Attachment: An enduring emotional tie to a special person,
characterized by a tendency to seek and maintain closeness,
especially during times of stress. Slide 6 6 Roots of Attachment
Theory John Bowlby applied ethology to infants Influenced by Konrad
Lorenz Infants innate behaviours are evolved responses which
promote survival These behaviours include: sucking, crying,
smiling, clinging, and following. Behaviours are modified from
inception by the behaviour of the Primary Care Figure (PCF). Slide
7 Konrad Lorenz Slide 8 Slide 9 9 PCF reactions... Bowlby found
that temporary separations from PCF evoked distinctive type of
reactions (separation anxiety) from infant, toddler, etc. More
importantly, he showed how infant/toddlers reactions upon PCF
return may evoke the very behaviour the infant/toddler intended to
prevent. Slide 10 Enter: Mary Ainsworth Made the distinction
between strength of attachment and security of attachment. The
natural question that had to be asked was: Is the child who clings
to his mother - who is afraid of the world and the people in it,
and who will not move off to explore other things or other people -
more strongly attached or merely more insecure? Ainsworth Ainsworth
Slide 11 11 Development of the Strange Test Developed experiment
/method to classify patterns of attachment between infants and
mothers: Strange Situation Test (SST) during separation. Led to the
development of 2 categories of attachment 1 type being Secure and 3
types of Insecure. Slide 12 Strange Situation Slide 13 Secure
Attachment Infant / toddler uses caregiver as a secure base May
show distress at separation, but the baby can be soothed at reunion
Parents of these children display sensitivity to infants/toddlers
needs Some parents report having attachment issues of their own
from the past, but have gotten over them. Interestingly, their
marriages are also less likely to be conflicted than those of the
parents of insecurely attached children. Slide 14 14 Insecure -
Anxious / ambivalent Infant/toddler(s) (IFT) found on the SST who
have PCFs who are over-anxious, insensitive to their childs needs,
and discourage exploration. (IFT) Shows great distress during
separation Clings and cries angrily upon return Distress continues
after reunion for much longer than securely attached infants Slide
15 15 Insecure / avoidant Are infant/toddler(s) (IFT) found on the
SST who have MFCs who do not show feelings, cannot tolerate
closeness, punish childs attachment behaviour. (IFT) then learns
to: Inhibit their tendency to cling and cry During the SST when
(MFC) re-appears (IFT) appears indifferent and uncaring will even
ignore (MFC). But this is not the true case as inside they are
physiologically aroused. Research has showed that (MFCs) can be
responsive to (IFTs) under low levels of stress, but under high
levels become less responsive. Slide 16 16 Disorganized /
disoriented In this case the IFT has a MFC who often feel helpless,
and are frightened by their own children. The MFC often lacks in
confidence with respect to their ability to care for and control
their child and they may see their child as more powerful than
themselves. Ultimately, this conditions the (IFT) to develop
disorganized and contradictory behaviour. (IFTs) may cry during
separation but avoid the MFT upon return or they may approach the
MFT upon return then freeze/fall, hit themselves, rock back and
forth, etc. This group shows the greatest distress and in adult
life have the most problems in living. Slide 17 The Disorganized /
Disoriented MFC: Why? Experience of their own childhood trauma
Active addictions Loss of parent before birth of child Currently
experiencing a trauma / related problem Slide 18 The SST and
attachment theories are a science - not the truth. They are based
on observances, cutoff scores, etc. SST doesnt measure strength of
attachment All attachment patterns have a function... How Reliable
is the SST... Is Attachment for Life Slide 19 Function of Insecure
Attachments WHY WOULD CHILDREN CONTINUE TO ACT APPARENTLY
INSECURELY ? ANXIOUSNESS / AMBIVALENCE (Cling / Stay close /
Protest) AVOIDANT (Stands of own two feet / seek dependence /
inhibit feelings) DISORGANIZED / DISORIENTED (Stands of own two
feet / seek dependence / inhibit feelings / act inconspicuous /
withdraw / freeze / ) Thoughts folks? Slide 20 Attachments in later
childhood Major theme in the book and partly the course - how does
attachment predispose one to chronic or complicated grief? This
will be the topic of study for about 3 - 4 weeks. But, first lets
look at how attachment patterns show up in adult life. Some of this
is theoretical some of this has been validated through studies.
Slide 21 Attachments in later childhood what do we think we know?
Attachments patterns that have been established by two years of age
appear to remain stable and predict quality of relationships in
later childhood Anxious / ambivalent school children seem to lack
confidence and assertiveness necessary for interaction with peers.
Avoidant children show more aggression to other children and
teachers rate them as more hostile, impulsive, and withdrawn.
Meanwhile, disorganized children appear to be a risk for
psychiatric problems in later childhood (12 and beyond). Further
research has demonstrated that attachment patterns are indeed hard
to break and that the assumptive world that the child experienced
between 0 - 2 is the lens in which they view world as older
children. This is important because... Its all about building
trust! Slide 22 Trust in Self and Others The goal of the parent is
to? According to Parkes: The principle function of parenting is to
provide a secure base from which developing children will learn the
extent to which they can rely on themselves and the extent to which
that can rely on others (pg. 17) Slide 23 Four Categories of Basic
Trust Self Trust Other Trust High Secure Attachment Insecure
Anxious / Ambivalent Avoidant Disorganized Low High Low High Low
Slide 24 A word about Trust Problems can arise from a lack of
trust, but trusting too much can also lead to similar problems. For
instance, self doubts of anxious / ambivalent children will make
them more willing to seek help when help is needed, but they also
may open themselves to exploitation. Similarly, the securely
attached may be too willingly to trust society and never question
its rules or leaders. Slide 25 Part II: Loss and Change / A Brief
Overview Slide 26 Why Grief? Love = attachment Loss Grief Who does
well? Who doesnt ? Slide 27 Determinants of Outcome after
Bereavement: Research says... Risks factors for complicated /
chronic bereavement 1. Personal vulnerability of the bereaved 2.
Attachment to the deceased 3. Events / circumstances lead up to and
including death 4. Social supports and other circumstances taking
place after death 5. Dependent relationships 6. Ambivalent
relationships Slide 28 SHOW A VARIETY OF FACTORS INFLUENCE THE
EXPRESSION of Grief... BUT THEY DONT EXPLAIN WHY? ALL IN ALL
EMPIRICAL STUDIES... Slide 29 Grief as a process of change early
research and theory building never meant to denote that normal
grieving had stages Tow Slide 30 According to parkes the study of
grief, loss, and bereavement is often muddled because it appears at
times that we are not studying the same phenomena. Thus he posits a
definition of grief: Grief involves a serious loss and a reaction
of intense pining or yearning for the object lost (separation
anxiety). He thens says if these components are missing the person
can be said to not be grieving... Slide 31 Bereavement means: the
state or fact of being bereaved due to the death of a loved one. it
denotes a period of time. During this period of time we are
grieving but often their are other reactions due to the fact of
bereavement: threats to our security major changes to our lives
Major changes in our family horrific memories of terrifying events
blame toward other s for death shame and/or guilt for our own
complicity or neglect Bereavement None of these is part of grief
though they may complicate grief and cause lasting problems! Slide
32 Complicated Grief (Prigerson et al. 1995) Seven symptoms
constitute complicated grief: Searching Yearning Preoccupation with
thoughts of the deceased Crying Disbelief regarding the death
Feeling stunned by the death Lack of acceptance of the death. All
of these symptoms significantly impair global functioning (i.e.,
mood, sleep, occupation, self-esteem, relationships, etc) Slide 33
Other Grief Theories: Trying to Answer the why? Psychosocial
transition theory Our Assumptive World Reauthorizing Narratives
Meaning making Shattered Assumptions Illusions are unveiled Dual
Process Model of Grieving Loss orientation and Restoration coping
Continuing Bonds Deceased are carried within Slide 34 The Research
Project Test clinical impressions/hypothesis which suggest that:
(1) Love and loss are intertwined (2) Childhood attachments
patterns / separation from parents / relationships in later life
influence how we cope with stress and loss, and; (3) Understand the
problems/dynamics which cause people to seek help after bereavement
in adult life. And ultimately, to understand the chains of
causation and to clarify the reasons why some people come through
the pain of bereavement and emerge stronger and wiser than before
while others suffer lasting damage to their mental health. Slide 35
Bereaved participants 181 patients who attended Royal London
Hospital 43 men 138 women 74% had been bereaved for over a year
before entering into the study average age 41 Slide 36 Relationship
of the dead person to the respondent Spouse or partner Mother
Father Child Stillbirth Miscarriage Sibling Other Multiple n = 34 n
= 31 n = 9 n = 25 n = 1 n = 3 n = 12 n = 33 Slide 37 Section 1:
Parenting Section 11: Childhood Vulnerability Parental distant
control Parental over protection Parental depression / psych
Parental separation Parental unusual closeness Parental rejection /
violence Childhood illness Childhood timidity Childhood aggressive
distrust Childhood Dresden vase Childhood unhappiness Childhood
care giving Parental violent aggression 11, 15, 16, 28 17, 18, 19,
20 7, 8, 9a, 9b, 12 1, 3, 4, 5, 14 6, 4 10, 13, 25, 26, 27 5, 6 7,
10, 12, 15, 16, 24, 25 20, 26, 27, 28, 29, 30, 31 8, 14, 17,18, 19
9, 32, 33 11, 23 If yes is chosen for any indicated number give 1
point, if no zero point Corresponding numbers FINDING YOUR
ATTACHMENT TYPE: INSECURE / SECURE Slide 38 Scoring Exceptions Most
Yes/No questions are scored Yes = 1 No = 0 Except for: Section 1
question (1) No = 1 Section 1 question (2a) No = 1 Section 1
question (29) No = 1 Section IIi question (6) No = 1 Section iii
question (9B) NO = 1 Slide 39 FINDING YOUR ATTACHMENT TYPE:
INSECURE / SECURE If you score 11 or less attachment style =
insecure More than 21 attachment style = insecure Average score
from bereaved study participants was 17 Other subcategories scoring
to follow Slide 40 SCORING YOUR ANXIOUS / AMBIVALENT SCORE SUM
THESE CATEGORIES PARENTAL UNUSAL CLOSENESS SI - 6, 4 PARENTAL
OVERPROTECTIVENESS SI - 17, 18, 19, 20 CHILDHOOD TIMIDITY SII - 7,
10, 12, 15, 16, 24, 25 DRESDEN VASE SII - 8, 14, 17,18, 19 10 MORE
= INDICATES ANXIOUS AMBIVALENT ATTACHMENT SCORE = 7 WAS AVERAGE
SCORE FOR BEREAVED PARTICIPANTS Slide 41 SCORING AVOIDANT
ATTACHMENTS SUM THESE CATEGORIES PARENTS INTOLERANT OF CLOSENESS SI
- 28 CHILD INTOLERANT OF CLOSENESS SII - 26 CHILDHOOD
AGGRESSIVENESS / DISTRUST SII 20, 26, 27, 28, 29, 30, 31 SCORE OF 6
OR MORE INDICATES AVOIDANT ATTACHMENT SCORE 3.8 WAS AVERAGE SCORE
FOR BEREAVED PARTICIPANTS Slide 42 SCORING DISORGANIZED ATTACHMENTS
SUM THESE CATEGORIES FAMILY EXPERIENCE DANGER / PERSECUTION SII - 4
PARENTAL REJECTION / VIOLENCE SI - 10, 13, 25, 26, 27 PARENTAL
DEPRESSION / PSYCH SI - 7, 8, 9a, 9b, 12 CHILDHOOD UNHAPPINESS SII
- 9, 32, 33 COMPULSIVE CAREGIVING SII - 11, 23 SCORE OF 6 OR MORE
INDICATES DISORGANIZED ATTACHMENT SCORE 4.5 WAS AVERAGE SCORE FOR
BEREAVED PARTICIPANTS Slide 43 part I Good Will Hunting: Group
Emersion Slide 44 Group Task and Questions Form Groups of 5 / 6
Select Captain / Spokesperson Task Group is watch movie and provide
evidence of attachment / grief details related to movie and
characters. Be as analytical as possible Video will be watched over
2 classes / group who wins will be given a prize...