The Association between Attachment Style and Trait Forgiveness in Adults - Report Example

The association between attachment style and trait forgiveness in adults (Institution) (Name) PSY2010: SOCIAL PROCESSES OF BEHAVIOUR (Module) (Instructor) Date of submission ABSTRACT The relationship between attachment style and trait forgiveness in a community sample of 242 adults was investigated through written questionnaires. Self report responses were used to assess attachment style which was rated using a four category model comprising of secure, fearful, preoccupied and dismissing. This was compared to three levels of forgiveness; on self, others and situations. A correlation analysis on the data obtained showed that securely attached individuals have higher forgiveness trait than the unsecure ones. The results showed consistency with past findings that securely attached individuals are better positioned to forgive self, others and situations than insecurely attached individuals. The association between attachment style and trait forgiveness in adults INTRODUCTION The aim of this current study was to investigate the relationship between attachment style and trait forgiveness in a community sample of adults. There are two hypotheses for this report. H1: It was hypothesised that those with a more secure attachment style would be more forgiving of self, others, and situations. The family background and the manner of upbringing have a huge influence on an individual’s personality in the later stages of life according to the attachment theory (Bartholomew & Horowitz 1991). The Bowlby (1973) model which postulates that children’s’ attachment with caregivers in the early years forms the foundation of other attachments and relationships later in life (Yaben 2009; Bartholomew & Horowitz 1991). For instance research indicates that persons with a history of insecure childhood relationships with their parents or caregivers are predisposed to shorter romantic relationships and report more negative beliefs about love (Bartholomew & Horowitz 1991). Lawler-Raw et al (2006) write that children who have experienced secure attachment with the caregiver approach new relationships with trust and comfort as opposed to those with unsecure attachments. Main (cited in Yaben 2009) says that forgiveness is the hallmark of secure attachment. Thompson and Synader (2003) write that there is a degree of ambiguity in defining forgiveness. This ambiguity threatens the differentiation of forgiving situations, self and others. Yaben (2009) however attempts to define forgiveness and says that it is a conscious or deliberate choice by a victim to reconcile with the transgressor and avoid revenge where neutral feelings are eventually replaced with positive ones. Lawler-Raw et al (2006) write that emotional stability and agreeableness have been positively linked with nonretaliation and forgiveness. Research Dozier and Kobak (1992) showed that adults with secure attachments are better equipped psychologically in handling negative emotions such as anger and resentment which inhibit forgiveness. Another research by Kobak and colleagues (1993) showed that securely attached teenagers who were close with their parents exhibited less dysfunctional anger than their counterparts. H2. It was predicted that those who scored higher on the insecure attachment styles (i.e., preoccupied, fearful, or dismissing) would be less forgiving of self, others, and situations. The research results in the Lawler-Raw et al’s (2006) study showed that insecurely attached young adults were unwilling to forget aggressions and often avoided the aggressor. The results also showed that insecure persons have idealised and rigid views of their relationship partners as opposed to those who are secure. The lack of flexible views of partners can be extended to self and situations. As such, insecure individuals are unwilling to accept different outcomes from the expected from self, situations or other people. Bartholomew and Horowitz (1991) call this dichotomization of self, situations and others which is engrained in childhood attachments. Conventionally, insecure childhood attachments are later replayed in life through shorter romantic relationships characterised by shallow love and personal differences. On the contrary, positive pro-social effects such as love, trust and empathy which are born of positive (secure) childhood attachments between a child and the caregiver are common in successful romantic relationships. Where they lack in married couples divorce is eminent (Yaben 2009). Insecure attachment between a child and a caregiver develops if the care-giving environment is unpredictable or unstable. This aspect of fearing for the unexpected is closely linked to unforgiveness. METHOD PARTICIPANTS All students enrolled in the course PSY2010 Social Processes of Behaviour were required to identify and recruit participants in the research. The participants were to be drawn from relatives, acquaintances and friends with gender balance in mind. However, current USQ students and staff members were ineligible to take part in the study. All participants needed to be aged 18 years and above and mentally stable to understand the purpose and requirements of the study and also understand the contents of the consent form. There were 275 identified participants who freely agreed to participate with no coercion whatsoever. Identified participants were first supplied with participation information sheet which briefed them about the purpose of the study, authorisation and other general information. Upon agreeing to participate, the participants were further supplied with the consent form and the questionnaire. The consent form addressed the ethical issues and assured participants of their privacy and use of data collected. Some questionnaires were omitted from the final sample due to a number of reasons; 11 of them because they arrived late, 8 of them because the participant did not meet the criteria and 14 of them because they had some missing data. The valid questionnaires in the research were 242 thus the same number of participants. Characteristics of the Final Sample Number of participants – 242 Gender – 126 males and 116 females. Age – Ranged from 18 to 76, with a mean age of 38.96 years. Relationship to PSY2010 student – 111 were friends, acquaintances, or work colleagues; 79 were family members or relatives; and 52 were spouses or romantic partners. Ethnic group 181 Anglo-Australians 9 Aboriginal or Torres Strait islanders 9 Other Australian 11Anglo-New Zealanders 9 British 6 Other European 5 Asian 3 American or Canadian 3 African 6 Another ethnic group Marital status 57 single (never married) 121 married 40 de facto (cohabiting) relationships 3 widowed 11separated 8 divorced, 2 same-sex partnership MATERIALS Attachment style The research used the Bartholomew and Horowitz’s Relationship Questionnaire. This measure grouped respondents into four categories; the secure, fearful, preoccupied and dismissing. The criteria used to group respondents into the four categories relied on their responses being matched to prototypes associated with each category. This kind of classification relied much on psychological theories and past research in the subject. Each category was then assessed on its performance on forgiving self, others and situations differently. Forgiveness For forgiveness, the research used the Heartland Forgiveness Scale. This is an 18-item measure comprising three six-item subscales that measure dispositional forgiveness of self, others and situations. Nine items on the scale measure forgiveness while the rest measure unforgiveness. Each item in the scale has a 7-point score with the positive (forgiveness) items being positive scores with negative (unforgiveness) items scoring negative scores. The HFS score is thus obtained by the cores from all items. PROCEDURE The participant information data sheets were given to all identified participants. Upon expressing their willingness to participate in the research and the researcher verifying that the participants met the minimum requirements for participation, they were supplied with the consent form and the questionnaire. Individual participants were to fill out the questionnaires. Signed consent forms were to be attached to the questionnaires and sealed in an envelope before handing over to the researcher. The participants were not supposed to place their names on the questionnaires so as to maintain anonymity. Students were to hand in the envelope to the university with the envelope still intact. Once received, the questionnaires and the consent form would be separated. The questionnaires would be scanned and compiled into a database for analysis. The results would not be published. RESULTS A correlation analysis was conducted in order to identify possible relationships between the attachment and forgiveness measures. Results indicated that those with a more secure attachment style were more forgiving of self, others, and situations. Conversely, those with a more fearful attachment style were less forgiving of self, others and situations. Results for preoccupied and dismissing attachment were more mixed. Those with a more preoccupied attachment style were less likely to forgive self and situations, though preoccupied attachment and forgiveness of others were not significantly correlated. Those with a more dismissing attachment style were less forgiving of others, though dismissing attachment style was not significantly correlated with either forgiveness of self or situations. DISCUSSION SECTION The first hypothesis was supported by the results of the research. The results show a positive correlations between a secure attachment style and willingness to forgive self, others and situations. The results also support the second hypothesis by showing a negative correlation and a insignificant correlation between insecure attachment style and ability to forgive self, others and situations. The current study investigated the association between attachment style and forgiveness of self, others and situations. Related research by Lawler-Raw et al examined the relationship between attachment style and forgiveness in young adults as they recall past experiences with conflict and betrayal. An ANOVA test carried done by the researchers showed that securely attached individuals were more forgiving than were insecurely attached individuals. This indicates some form of semblance in this past research and the current one. Nonetheless, the Lawler-Raw et al (2006) used a relatively younger sample with mean age 20.4 years as opposed to the current mean age of 38.86 years. Another research similar to the current study was done by Yaben (2009) which investigated the link between attachment style and forgiveness in divorced persons. This research confirms Yaben’s (2009) findings that attachment style plays an important role in forgiveness on unforgiveness. All the three studies used different samples and investigated various aspects of forgiveness and attachment style but all agree that attachment style influences forgiveness to a great extent in different situations. Persons with a secure attachment style have no problem with expressing their feelings. As such, when it comes to happiness, they genuinely show it why they do the same to anger. On the other hand, insecurely attached persons may hold back from doing so (Bassett 2006). The securely attached persons have confidence in their ability to forge relationships and high esteem of themselves. Therefore, they have confidence and a positive attitude in forging positive relationship with self, situations and others by forgiving. Expressing anger, a common trait among persons with secure attachment styles allows them to release their feeling instead of confining them something that allows them to forgive and move on. Contrarily, persons with insecure attachment styles have problems expressing their feelings which prevent them from moving on, of which the first step is to forgive offenders and transgressors, whether, self, situation or other people. The findings of this research imply that psychologists and counsellors have a more solid ground on which to assist persons undergoing psychological problems especially those recovering from bad experiences in life or unable to forgive. By investigating their attachment styles, psychologists can learn and develop new ways that suit particular attachment styles and encourage forgiveness. Any weaknesses in the research would be used as learning lessons for any future research in the subject. This research had two major limitations. First is that the sample is relatively varied to give specific data on a particular age group. For instance, other researches on forgiveness and attachment style focus on a specific subgroup of the population such as college students or divorced couples. Secondly, the research relied solely on self report responses from the participants. Self-report responses are prone to incorrect data from respondents which can give biased and incorrect results. Future research in this field should address these concerns. The first limitation can be covered by zeroing in on a narrower more homogeneous population. The second limitation can be addressed by using observations such as changes in systolic blood pressure to counter incorrect data from respondents. Future research in this field should address these concerns. The first limitation can be covered by zeroing in on a narrower more homogeneous population. The second limitation can be addressed by using observations such as changes in systolic blood pressure to counter incorrect data from respondents. References Bartholomew, K. & Horowitz, L. (1991). “Attachment styles among young adults: A test of a four-category model” Journal of personality and social psychology. 61(2), 226-244 Bassett, R. & Bassett, K., Lloyd, M. & Johnson, J. (2006). “Seeking forgiveness: considering the role of moral emotions” Journal of psychology and theology. 34(2), 111-124 Lawler-Raw, K., Younger, J. Piferi, R. & Jones, W. (2006). “The Role of Adult Attachment Style in Forgivenes"s Following an Interpersonal Offense” Journal of counseling and development. 84 (4), 493-502 Thompson, L & Snyder, C. (2003). ‘Measuring forgiveness,’ in S.J. Lopez and C.R. Snyder (eds), Positive Psychological Assessment: A Handbook of Models and Measures. Washington DC: American Psychological Association. Yaben, S. (2009). “Forgiveness, attachment and divorce” Journal of divorce and remarriage 50(4), 282-294. DOI: 10.1080/10502550902775952 Read More

Lawler-Raw et al (2006) write that emotional stability and agreeableness have been positively linked with nonretaliation and forgiveness. Research Dozier and Kobak (1992) showed that adults with secure attachments are better equipped psychologically in handling negative emotions such as anger and resentment which inhibit forgiveness. Another research by Kobak and colleagues (1993) showed that securely attached teenagers who were close with their parents exhibited less dysfunctional anger than their counterparts. H2. It was predicted that those who scored higher on the insecure attachment styles (i.e., preoccupied, fearful, or dismissing) would be less forgiving of self, others, and situations.

The research results in the Lawler-Raw et al’s (2006) study showed that insecurely attached young adults were unwilling to forget aggressions and often avoided the aggressor. The results also showed that insecure persons have idealised and rigid views of their relationship partners as opposed to those who are secure. The lack of flexible views of partners can be extended to self and situations. As such, insecure individuals are unwilling to accept different outcomes from the expected from self, situations or other people.

Bartholomew and Horowitz (1991) call this dichotomization of self, situations and others which is engrained in childhood attachments. Conventionally, insecure childhood attachments are later replayed in life through shorter romantic relationships characterised by shallow love and personal differences. On the contrary, positive pro-social effects such as love, trust and empathy which are born of positive (secure) childhood attachments between a child and the caregiver are common in successful romantic relationships.

Where they lack in married couples divorce is eminent (Yaben 2009). Insecure attachment between a child and a caregiver develops if the care-giving environment is unpredictable or unstable. This aspect of fearing for the unexpected is closely linked to unforgiveness. METHOD PARTICIPANTS All students enrolled in the course PSY2010 Social Processes of Behaviour were required to identify and recruit participants in the research. The participants were to be drawn from relatives, acquaintances and friends with gender balance in mind.

However, current USQ students and staff members were ineligible to take part in the study. All participants needed to be aged 18 years and above and mentally stable to understand the purpose and requirements of the study and also understand the contents of the consent form. There were 275 identified participants who freely agreed to participate with no coercion whatsoever. Identified participants were first supplied with participation information sheet which briefed them about the purpose of the study, authorisation and other general information.

Upon agreeing to participate, the participants were further supplied with the consent form and the questionnaire. The consent form addressed the ethical issues and assured participants of their privacy and use of data collected. Some questionnaires were omitted from the final sample due to a number of reasons; 11 of them because they arrived late, 8 of them because the participant did not meet the criteria and 14 of them because they had some missing data. The valid questionnaires in the research were 242 thus the same number of participants.

Characteristics of the Final Sample Number of participants – 242 Gender – 126 males and 116 females. Age – Ranged from 18 to 76, with a mean age of 38.96 years. Relationship to PSY2010 student – 111 were friends, acquaintances, or work colleagues; 79 were family members or relatives; and 52 were spouses or romantic partners. Ethnic group 181 Anglo-Australians 9 Aboriginal or Torres Strait islanders 9 Other Australian 11Anglo-New Zealanders 9 British 6 Other European 5 Asian 3 American or Canadian 3 African 6 Another ethnic group Marital status 57 single (never married) 121 married 40 de facto (cohabiting) relationships 3 widowed 11separated 8 divorced, 2 same-sex partnership MATERIALS Attachment style The research used the Bartholomew and Horowitz’s Relationship Questionnaire.

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