Abstract
Aggressive behavior in girls and women typically occurs within the con- text of close interpersonal relationships. The purpose of this chapter is to provide an overview of research on the relationship between attachment and aggression and to discuss the function that aggressive behavior may play in close relationships. Clearly, not all aggressive and violent behavior can be explained in terms of attachment. We argue, however, that many aggressive acts in intimate relationships can be understood from this perspective. Furthermore, we propose that identifying the attachment function of aggressive behavior can help to delineate meaningful subgroups of individuals who differ in the function that their aggressive behavior serves, the targets of their aggressive acts, and in their therapeutic needs.
Keywords
These keywords were added by machine and not by the authors. This process is experimental and the keywords may be updated as the learning algorithm improves.
This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution.
Buying options
Tax calculation will be finalised at checkout
Purchases are for personal use only
Learn about institutional subscriptionsPreview
Unable to display preview. Download preview PDF.
References
Achenbach, T. M. (1995). Youth self-report. Burlington: University of Vermont, Department of Psychiatry.
Ainsworth, M. S., Blehar, M. C., Waters, E., & Wall, S. (1978). Patterns of attachment: A psycho- logical study of the strange situation. Hillsdale, NJ: Erlbaum.
Allen, J. P., Hauser, S. T., & Borman-Spurrell, E. (1996). Attachment theory as a framework for understanding sequelae of severe adolescent psychopathology: An 11-year follow-up study. Journal of Consulting and Clinical Psychology, 64, 254-263.
Allen, J. P., & Land, D. (1999). Attachment in adolescence. In J. Cassidy & P. R. Shaver (Eds. ), Handbook of attachment: Theory, research, and clinical applications (pp. 319-355). New York: Guildford.
Allen, J. P., Marsh, P., McFarland, C, Boykin, K., Land, D. J., Jodl, K. M., & Peck, S. (2002). Attachment and autonomy as predictors of the development of social skills and delin- quency during midadolescence. Journal of Consulting and Clinical Psychology, 70, 55-66.
Allen, J. P., Moore, C, Kuperminc, G., & Bell, K. (1998). Attachment and adolescent function-ing. Child Development, 69, 1406-1419.
Bartholomew, K. (1990). Avoidance of intimacy: An attachment perspective. Journal of Social and Personal Relationships, 7, 147-178.
Bartholomew, K, & Horowitz, L. M. (1991). Attachment styles among young adults: A test of a four-category model. Journal of Personality and Social Psychology, 61, 226-244.
Baumeister, R. F., & Sommer, K. L. (1997). What do men want?: Gender differences and two spheres of belongingness: Comment on Cross and Madson (1997). Psychological Bulletin, 122, 38-44.
Beck, A. T., Steer, R. A., & Garbin, M. M. (1988). Psychometric properties of the Beck Depression Inventory: Twenty-five years of evaluation. Clinical Psychology Review, 8, 77-100.
Bowlby, J. (1969). Attachment and loss:Vol. 1. Attachment.New York: Hogarth Press.
Bowlby, J. (1973). Attachment and loss: Vol. 2. Separation New York: Basic.
Bowlby, J. (1980). Attachment and loss. Vol. 3 Loss, sadness and depression NY: Basic Books.
Bushman, B. J., & Baumeister, R. F. (2002). Does self-love or self-hatred lead to violence? Journal of Research in Personality, 36, 543-545.
Cross, S. E., & Madson, L. (1997). Models of the self: Self-construals and gender. Psychological Bulletin, 122, 5-37.
Doyle, A. B., & Moretti, M. M. (2001). Attachment to parents and adjustment in adolescence: Literature review and policy implications [Report]. Ottawa: Health Canada. File number 032ss. H5219-9-CYH7/001/SS.
Dozier, M., & Kobak. R. R. (1992). Psychophysiology in attachment interviews: Converging evidence for deactivating strategies. Child Development, 63, 1473-1480.
Dutton, D. G. (1999). The traumatic origins of intimate rage. Aggression and Violent Behavior, 4, 431-448.
Florian, V., Mikulincer, M., & Bucholtz, I. (1995). Effects of adult attachment style on the perception and search for social support. Journal of Psychology, 129, 665-676.
Ijzendoorn, M., Moran, G., Belsky, J., Pederson, D., Bakersman-Kranenburg, M. J., & Kneppers, K. (2000). The similarity of siblings' attacliment to their mother. Child Development, 71, 1086-1098.
Johnson, S., & Whiffen, V. (2003) Clinical applications of attachment theory. NY: Guildford.
Lessard, J. C. (1994) The role of psychological distress and attachment in adolescent substance use. Unpublished Master's Thesis. Simon Fraser University.
Lessard, J. C, & Moretti, M. M. (1998). Suicidal ideation in an adolescent clinical sample: Attachment patterns and clinical implications. Journal of Adolescence, 21, 383-395.
Lyons-Ruth, K. (1996). Attachment relationships among children with aggressive behavior problems: The role of disorganized early attachment patterns. Journal of Consulting and Clinical Psychology, 64, 64-73.
Lyons-Ruth, K., & Jacobvitz, D. (1999). Attachment disorganization: Unresolved loss, relational violence, and lapses in behavioral and attentional strategies. In J. Cassidy & P. R. Shaver (Eds. ), Handbook of attachment: Theory, research, and clinical applications (pp. 520- 554). New York: Guildford Press.
Main, M., & Goldwyn, R. (1998). Adult attachment scoring and classification system. Unpublished manuscript. University of California at Berkeley.
Main, M., Kaplan, N., & Cassidy, J. (1985). Security in infancy, childhood, and adulthood: A move to the level of representation, Monographs of the Society for Research in Child- Development, 50, 66-104.
Mayseless, O. (1991). Adult attachment violence and courtship violence. Family Relations, 40, 21-28.
Moore, K., Moretti, M. M., & Holland, R. (1998). A new perspective on youth care programs: Using attachment theory to guide interventions for troubled youth. Residential Treatment for Children and Youth, 15, 1-24.
Moretti, M. M., & Higgins, E. T. (1999). Own versus other standpoints in self-regulation: Developmental antecedents and functional consequences. Review of General Psychology, 3, 188-223.
Moretti, M. M., & Holland, R. (2003). Navigating the journey of adolescence: Parental attachment and the self from a systemic perspective. In S. Johnson & V. Whiffen (Eds. ), Clinical Applications of Attachment Theory. NY: Guildford.
Moretti, M. M., Holland, R., & McKay, S. (2001). Self-other representations and relational and overt aggression in adolescent girls and boys. Behavioral Sciences and the Law, 19, 109-126.
Moretti, M. M., Holland, R., & Moore, K. (2002). Youth at risk: Systemic intervention from an attachment perspective. In M. V. Hayes & L. T. Foster (Eds. ), Too small to see, too big to ignore (pp. 233-252). Victoria: Western Geographic Series, University of Victoria.
Moretti, M. M., Rein, A. S., & Wiebe,V. J. (1998). Relational self-regulation: Gender differences in risk for dysphoria. Canadian Journal of Behavioural Science, 30, 243-252.
Odgers, C, & Moretti, M. M. (2002). Aggressive and antisocial girls: Research update and challenges. International Journal of Forensic Mental Health, 1, 103-119.
Osbuth, I., Luedemann, M., Peled, M., & Moretti, M. M. (2002). Attachment and aggression in a clinical adolescent sample. Paper presented at the Vancouver Conference on Aggressive and Violent Girls, Vancouver, Canada.
Papini, D. R., & Roggman, L. A. (1992). Adolescent P\perceived Attachment to parents in relation to competence, depression, and anxiety:A longitudinal study. Journal of Early Adolescence, 12, 420-440.
Pomerantz, E. M., & Ruble, D. N. (1998). The role of maternal control in the development of sex differences in self-evaluative factors. Child Development, 69, 458-478.
Reebye, P., Moretti, M. M., Wiebe, V. J., & Lessard, J. C. (2001). Symptoms of posttraumatic stress disorder in adolescents with conduct disorder: Sex differences and onset patterns. Canadian Journal of Psychiatry, 45, 746-751.
Renken, B., H., Egeland, L., Marvinney, D., Mangelsdorf, S., & Sroufe, L. A. (1989). Early childhood antecedents of aggression and passive-withdrawal in early elementary school. Journal of Personality, 57,257-281.
Rosenstein, D. S., & Horowitz, H. A. (1996). Adolescent attachment and psychopathology. Journal of Consulting and Clinical Psychology, 64, 244-253.
Scharfe, E. (2002). Reliability and validity of an interview assessment of attachment represen- tations in a clinical sample of adolescents. Journal of Adolescent Research, 17, 532-551.
Schneider, B. H., Atkinson, L., & Tardif, C. (2001). Child-parent attachment and children's peer relationships: A quantitative review. Child Development, 37, 86-100.
Shaver, P. R., & Hazan, C. (1993). Adult romantic relationships: Theory and evidence. In D. Perlman & W. Jones (Eds. ), Advances in personal relationships (Vol. 4, pp. 29-70). London: Kingsley.
Trinke, S. J., & Bartholomew, K. (1997). Hierarchies of attachment relationships in young adulthood. Journal of Social and Personal Relationships, 14, 603-625.
Author information
Authors and Affiliations
Editor information
Editors and Affiliations
Rights and permissions
Copyright information
© 2004 Springer Science+Business Media New York
About this chapter
Cite this chapter
Moretti, M.M., Dasilva, K., Holland, R. (2004). Aggression from an Attachment Perspective. In: Moretti, M.M., Odgers, C.L., Jackson, M.A. (eds) Girls and Aggression. Perspectives in Law & Psychology, vol 19. Springer, Boston, MA. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-1-4419-8985-7_4
Download citation
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-1-4419-8985-7_4
Publisher Name: Springer, Boston, MA
Print ISBN: 978-1-4613-4748-4
Online ISBN: 978-1-4419-8985-7
eBook Packages: Springer Book Archive