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Related Experiment Videos

Attachment style and self-reported aggression.

Cor Meesters1, Peter Muris

  • 1Department of Medical, Clinical, and Experimental Psychology, Maastricht University, The Netherlands. c.meesters@dep.unimaas.nl

Psychological Reports
|March 20, 2002
PubMed
Summary

Insecure attachment styles in young women correlate with higher self-reported aggression, anger, and hostility. This study highlights the link between attachment and aggressive tendencies.

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Area of Science:

  • Psychology
  • Social Psychology
  • Developmental Psychology

Background:

  • Attachment theory explains interpersonal relationship patterns.
  • Understanding attachment styles is crucial for mental health research.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To investigate the association between attachment styles and aggression in young women.
  • To determine if insecure attachment is linked to increased aggressive behaviors.

Main Methods:

  • Surveyed 139 young women using the Adult Attachment Questionnaire.
  • Classified participants into secure, avoidant, or ambivalent attachment styles.
  • Measured self-reported aggression, anger, and hostility.

Main Results:

  • 27.3% of participants reported insecure attachment (avoidant or ambivalent).
  • Insecurely attached individuals exhibited higher levels of anger and hostility.
  • A significant relationship was found between insecure attachment and aggression.

Conclusions:

  • Insecure attachment is associated with heightened aggression and hostility in young women.
  • Findings underscore the importance of attachment security in emotional regulation.
  • Further research is warranted to explore interventions targeting attachment-related aggression.

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