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Representations of Early Attachment Experiences and Personality in Adulthood

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Abstract

The present study aimed to explore the association between the representation of early attachment experiences and personality in a representative and non-clinical German adult sample. Adult attachment was assessed by means of the Adult Attachment Interview. One hundred and sixty-seven German adults completed the NEO-FFI and the TPQ. Three important findings emerged: (1) Adults with insecure attachment representation (dismissing versus preoccupied) differ from each other in Neuroticism and Harm Avoidance, (2) attachment security is independent of personality and (3) Adults with an unresolved attachment trauma do not differ from those without with respect to personality. Our results underline the interrelation between attachment experiences, the regulation of negative emotions and self-perceived personality traits in adulthood. Moreover, our findings support theoretical assumptions of attachment theory proposing that attachment security emerges within social relationships. We suggest that unresolved attachment, at least in non-clinical samples, occurs through attachment-related traumatic experiences rather than specific personality dispositions and invite researchers to further explore biological and environmental risk factors leading to an unresolved state-of-mind.

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Notes

  1. Training by Dr. Deborah Jacobvitz, January 2005 at University of Austin, Texas; Reliability achieved in December 2006 by Dr. Mary Main.

  2. Dr. Elisabeth Fremmer-Bombik, Training 1992 at the University Regensburg, Germany; Reliability achieved 1993.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Psychosomatic Medicine and Psychotherapy, University Medical Center of the Johannes Gutenberg University Mainz, Untere Zahlbacher Straße 8, 55313, Mainz, Germany

    Iris Reiner

  2. Department of Psychology, Friedrich-Alexander University Erlangen-Nuremberg, Nägelsbachstr. 49a, Erlangen, 91052, Germany

    Gottfried Spangler

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  1. Iris Reiner
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  2. Gottfried Spangler
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Correspondence to Iris Reiner.

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Reiner, I., Spangler, G. Representations of Early Attachment Experiences and Personality in Adulthood. J Adult Dev 20, 38–45 (2013). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10804-013-9154-x

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