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Covid-19, Fear and the Future: An Attachment Perspective
1Professor of Psychology, New School for Social Research, Co-Director, Center for Attachment Research, Past and Founding President, Society for Emotion and Attachment Studies (SEAS), Editor, Attachment & Human Development.
Clinical Neuropsychiatry
|December 15, 2021
Summary
Attachment security influences fear, with loss of loved ones or love being a primary anxiety source. Mentalizing fear enhances preparedness for future pandemics and climate change-related disasters.
Area of Science:
- Psychology
- Public Health
- Environmental Psychology
Background:
- Fear is a fundamental human emotion with significant psychological and societal implications.
- Existing psychological theories, such as terror management theory and attachment theory, offer insights into fear's role.
- Attachment security has been identified as a key moderator in the experience of fear.
Purpose of the Study:
- To summarize and appraise terror management theory and attachment theory concerning fear.
- To highlight the moderating role of attachment security on fear.
- To propose mentalizing fear as a strategy for future preparedness.
Main Methods:
- Literature review and theoretical appraisal of psychological accounts of fear.
- Synthesis of research on attachment security and fear.
- Conceptual analysis of reflective functioning (mentalizing) in managing anxiety.
Main Results:
- Attachment security significantly moderates the experience and impact of fear.
- Fear of loss (of loved ones or love) is identified as a primary source of human anxiety.
- Mentalizing fear (reflective functioning) is crucial for coping with existential threats.
Conclusions:
- Attachment theory provides a robust framework for understanding fear, particularly fear of loss.
- Enhanced mentalization and reflective functioning are vital for individual and societal resilience against pervasive threats.
- Strengthening public health infrastructure and addressing climate change are essential for managing fear-driven crises.
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