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“Ties that Bind” Behavior Genetics of Associations Between Attachment and Personality in Adulthood

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Behavior Genetics of Temperament and Personality

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Abstract

The authors discuss issues related to the theoretical and research links between adult attachment and personality, with a focus on behavior genetics. A sizable portion of the review focuses on adult romantic or intimate attachment measured with questionnaire measures such as the Experiences in Close Relationships Inventory (Brennan et al (1998) Attachment theory and close relationships. Guilford, New York) since that has been a dominant arena for many studies. Adult anxious attachment toward romantic figures shows moderate levels of heritability; results are inconsistent for avoidant attachment. There are common genetic influences shared between measures of attachment with neuroticism and depressive symptoms; attachment, however, also has significant specific genetic influences. However, there are few behavior genetic studies of adult attachment. We then expand the discussion to examine findings on other types of possible attachment figures (e.g., siblings, twins) and also on larger-scale manifestations of attachment such as religion and intergroup bias that appear to play a similar function in increasing feelings of security and reducing anxiety and distress. We address limits to the current state of research on personality and adult attachment which include lack of research across the life course, limited assessment of non-romantic attachment figures, or the role of gene-by-environment interplay, and most studies are underpowered to examine complex dimensions of personality and attachment (McAdams and Olson, Annu Rev Psychol 61:517–542, 2010).

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Notes

  1. 1.

    Note: There are different uses of terminology in different literatures on attachment. In this chapter, when we discuss the theoretical/abstract construct of attachment, we mean an internal working model of a trusted attachment figure that is activated when there is need for proximity and contact or when there is distress and anxiety. When the presence of and/or the working model of an attachment figure increases feelings of security and reduces anxiety and distress, that is referred to as secure attachment. When the internal working model is less effective, resulting in feelings of insecurity, anxiety, or distress, then we refer to insecure attachment which may involve anxiety, avoidance, or a combination of the two. Thus, when talking about the construct of attachment, we use the terms attachment and attachment working model interchangeably. We use the terms attachment figure or attachment bond interchangeably in reference to the trusted person (or institution).

    The research literature has taken two approaches to the assessment of adult attachment: categorical and dimensional. Use of the term “attachment style” reflects categorical approaches to assessment (e.g., secure, insecure, anxious, or avoidant attachment styles) and reflect constellations of typical thoughts, behaviors, and feelings associated with a particular style. Dimensional/continuous approaches typically use self-report questionnaires to assess the extent to which a person exhibits attachment, usually vis-à-vis a romantically linked attachment figure such as a spouse, mate, boyfriend, or girlfriend. References to attachment-related anxiety or attachment-related avoidance occur when dimensional/continuous measures are used in research. An individual with low levels of attachment-related anxiety and/or avoidance is considered to be more securely attached.

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Acknowledgments

The authors were supported by NIH grants R01 AG018386, R01 AG022982, and R01 AG018384 and Training Grant MH-20030.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Psychiatry and Center for Behavioral Genomics: Twin Research Laboratory, University of California San Diego, San Diego, CA, USA

    Carol E. Franz & Ana Ramundo

  2. Department of Psychology, Royal Holloway, University of London, London, UK

    Gary J. Lewis

  3. Department of Psychological and Brain Sciences, Boston University, Boston, MA, USA

    Michael J. Lyons

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  1. Carol E. Franz
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  2. Gary J. Lewis
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  3. Ana Ramundo
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  4. Michael J. Lyons
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Correspondence to Carol E. Franz .

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  1. Department of Psychological and Brain Sciences, Boston University, Boston, MA, USA

    Kimberly J. Saudino

  2. Department of Psychological and Brain Sciences, George Washington University, Washington, DC, USA

    Jody M. Ganiban

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Franz, C.E., Lewis, G.J., Ramundo, A., Lyons, M.J. (2020). “Ties that Bind” Behavior Genetics of Associations Between Attachment and Personality in Adulthood. In: Saudino, K.J., Ganiban, J.M. (eds) Behavior Genetics of Temperament and Personality. Advances in Behavior Genetics. Springer, New York, NY. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-1-0716-0933-0_9

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