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| title | chunk | source | category | tags | date_saved | instance |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Attachment measures | 6/7 | https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Attachment_measures | reference | science, encyclopedia | 2026-05-05T15:31:30.330759+00:00 | kb-cron |
Secure - It is relatively easy for me to become emotionally close to others. I am comfortable depending on others and having others depend on me. I don't worry about being alone or having others not accept me. Dismissive - I am comfortable without close emotional relationships. It is very important to me to feel independent and self-sufficient, and I prefer not to depend on others or have others depend on me. Preoccupied - I want to be completely emotionally intimate with others, but I often find that others are reluctant to get as close as I would like. I am uncomfortable being without close relationships, but I sometimes worry that others don't value me as much as I value them. Fearful - I am somewhat uncomfortable getting close to others. I want emotionally close relationships, but I find it difficult to trust others completely, or to depend on them. I sometimes worry that I will be hurt if I allow myself to become too close to others.
Tests demonstrated the four attachment styles were distinct in how they related to other kinds of psychological variables. Adults indeed appeared to have four styles of attachment instead of three attachment styles. David Schmitt, together with a large number of colleagues, validated the attachment questionnaire created by Bartholomew and Horowitz in 62 cultures.
The distinction of thoughts about self and thoughts about partners proved valid in nearly all cultures. However, the way these two kinds of thoughts interacted to form attachment styles varied somewhat across cultures. The four attachment styles had somewhat different meanings across cultures. A second important advance in attachment questionnaires was the use of independent items to assess attachment. Instead of asking people to choose between three or four sets of statements, people rated how strongly they agreed with dozens of individual statements. The ratings for the individual statements were combined to provide an attachment score. Investigators have created several questionnaires using this strategy to measure adult attachment. Two popular questionnaires of this type are the Experiences in Close Relationships (ECR) questionnaire and the Experiences in Close Relationships - Revised (ECR-R) questionnaire. The ECR was created by Brennan, Clark, and Shaver in 1998.
The ECR-R was created by Fraley, Waller, and Brennan in 2000.
Analysis of the ECR and ECR-R reveal that the questionnaire items can be grouped into two dimensions of attachment. One group of questionnaire items deal with how anxious a person is about their relationship. These items serve as a scale for anxiety. The remaining items deal with how avoidant a person is in their relationship. These items serve as a scale for avoidance. Many researchers now use scores from the anxiety and avoidance scales to perform statistical analyses and test hypotheses. Scores on the anxiety and avoidance scales can still be used to classify people into the four adult attachment styles. The four styles of attachment defined in Bartholomew and Horowitz's model were based on thoughts about self and thoughts about partners. The anxiety scale in the ECR and ECR-R reflect thoughts about self. Attachment anxiety relates to beliefs about self-worth and whether or not one will be accepted or rejected by others. The avoidance scale in the ECR and ECR-R relates to thoughts about partners. Attachment avoidance relates to beliefs about taking risks in approaching or avoiding other people. Combinations of anxiety and avoidance can thus be used to define the four attachment styles. The secure style of attachment is characterized by low anxiety and low avoidance; the preoccupied style of attachment is characterized by high anxiety and low avoidance; the dismissive avoidant style of attachment is characterized by low anxiety and high avoidance; and the fearful avoidant style of attachment is characterized by high anxiety and high avoidance.
== Assessments using DMM theory and method ==
DMM-informed assessments offer a full lifespan set of assessments, many adapted from existing attachment assessments. Some assessments are validated and some are still in development or the validation process.
=== Infant CARE-Index (ICI) === This validated assessment, described above, primarily assess interaction rather than attachment in a 3-minute observation.
=== Toddler CARE-Index (TCI) === The TCI is undergoing a 15+ year validation process. It assess the general attachment characteristics of a child 15-72 months old. The assessment is a shortened version of the Strange Situation Procedure and involves a 5-minute video recorded play interaction between a child and caregiver with a frustration task and post-frustration repair attempt.
=== DMM-Strange Situation Procedure (SSP) === As described above but the DMM version covers a more narrow age range of 11-15 months.
=== Preschool Assessment of Attachment (PAA) === As described above, this validated assessment is a slightly modified version of the SSP to cover a wider range of ages 2-5 years old.
=== School-Age Assessment of Attachment (SAA) === Similar to the Adult Attachment Projective Picture System above and the CAPA below, it invites a free response task from a child 6-13 years old after seeing a picture stimuli. It uses a DMM discourse analysis technique to assess attachment. The SAA was the subject of a special section of Clinical Child Psychology and Psychiatry in July 2017, and is a validated assessment.
=== Meaning of the Child interview (MotC) === The MotC uses an interview and discourse technique similar to the AAI. It assesses a parent's general pattern of caregiving, sensitivity and responsiveness to their child.
=== Child Attachment and Play Assessment (CAPA) === This assesses the attachment and exploration systems for children 7-11. It uses a process similar to the School-Age Assessment of Attachment and Adult Attachment Projective Picture System above.
=== Transition to Adulthood Attachment Interview (TAAI) === This assessment is undergoing a development and validation process. It assess attachment patterns in people 14-25 years old, and is a version of the AAI modified to be age and development appropriate.
=== DMM-Adult Attachment Interview (AAI) === As described above, this well validated assessment considers many aspects of the adult attachment system.