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Attachment within life history theory: an evolutionary perspective on individual differences in attachment
Ohad Szepsenwol1, Jeffry A Simpson2
1Baruch Ivcher School of Psychology, Interdisciplinary Center (IDC) Herzliya, P.O. Box 167, Herzliya 4510101, Israel.
Current Opinion in Psychology
|March 28, 2018
Summary
Individual attachment styles influence reproductive strategies and emotional regulation. In harsh environments, insecure attachment (anxiety, avoidance) may promote adaptive strategies for survival and reproduction.
Area of Science:
- Evolutionary psychology
- Developmental psychology
- Attachment theory
Background:
- Early life experiences, particularly harsh or unpredictable environments, can impact parental care.
- These environmental factors may lead to the development of insecure attachment styles in children.
Purpose of the Study:
- To integrate attachment theory and life history theory.
- To explore how individual differences in adult attachment mediate adaptive calibration of reproductive strategies, cognitive schemas, and emotional expression/regulation.
Main Methods:
- Theoretical review and integration of existing research.
- Discussion of evolutionary and developmental pathways.
Main Results:
- Insecure attachment (anxiety and avoidance) may be an adaptive response in harsh environments.
- Attachment styles influence the calibration of reproductive strategies, cognitive schemas, and emotional regulation.
Conclusions:
- Insecure attachment can be evolutionarily adaptive in challenging environments.
- Understanding attachment differences is key to understanding human reproductive and emotional strategies.
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