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Loss and disorganization from an attachment perspective
1Department of Kinesiology, College of Health and Human Development, California State University, Northridge, California 91330, USA. Paula.thomson@csun.edu
Death Studies
|February 1, 2014
Summary
Disorganized and disorienting states of mind, identified through the Adult Attachment Interview (AAI), offer insights into grief and guide clinical treatment for unresolved loss experiences.
Area of Science:
- Psychology
- Clinical Psychology
- Attachment Theory
Background:
- Loss experiences can lead to unresolved states of mind.
- Attachment patterns influence how individuals process grief.
- The Adult Attachment Interview (AAI) is a tool for assessing attachment.
Purpose of the Study:
- To explore how disorganizing/disorienting states of mind in unresolved loss relate to the bereaved mind.
- To investigate the utility of AAI markers for assessing loss resolution.
- To propose an attachment-based grief treatment model.
Main Methods:
- Analysis of the Adult Attachment Interview (AAI) coding system.
- Identification of disorganization, disorientation, and unresolved loss markers.
- Discussion of pre-loss attachment organizations.
Main Results:
- Subtle indices of unresolved loss, such as lapses in monitoring reason, discourse, and behavior, are identifiable in the AAI.
- These indices serve as concrete markers for assessing the resolution of loss experiences.
- Attachment-based approaches can inform grief treatment.
Conclusions:
- Disorganized and disorienting states of mind are key indicators of unresolved loss.
- The AAI provides valuable markers for assessing grief resolution.
- An attachment-based grief treatment model can enhance existing interventions for prolonged grief disorder.
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