CRC CRC Attachment Theory & Relationship Patterns 1 — Questions and Answers
Question 1: John Bowlby's attachment theory proposes that the primary biological function of attachment is:
- Sexual bonding between adults
- Proximity-seeking to a caregiver for safety and survival (Correct answer)
- Social learning through observation
- Cognitive development through secure play
Correct answer: Proximity-seeking to a caregiver for safety and survival
Bowlby proposed that attachment is a biological system designed to keep infants close to caregivers for protection and survival.
Question 2: Adults with a secure attachment style in romantic relationships typically:
- Avoid intimacy to prevent being hurt
- Feel comfortable with closeness and can express needs directly (Correct answer)
- Become anxious when partners are unavailable
- Oscillate between idealizing and devaluing partners
Correct answer: Feel comfortable with closeness and can express needs directly
Securely attached adults feel comfortable with intimacy and interdependence, and communicate needs without excessive anxiety.
Question 3: A client who fears abandonment, seeks constant reassurance, and becomes distressed when their partner is emotionally distant likely has which attachment style?
- Secure
- Avoidant
- Anxious-preoccupied (Correct answer)
- Disorganized
Correct answer: Anxious-preoccupied
Anxious-preoccupied attachment is characterized by fear of abandonment, hypervigilance to the partner's moods, and need for constant reassurance.
Question 4: The 'dismissive-avoidant' attachment style in adults is most associated with:
- Excessive emotional dependency on a partner
- Discomfort with closeness and a strong emphasis on self-reliance (Correct answer)
- Confusion and fear surrounding intimate relationships
- Intense jealousy and possessiveness
Correct answer: Discomfort with closeness and a strong emphasis on self-reliance
Dismissive-avoidant individuals prioritize independence, suppress attachment needs, and may feel suffocated by too much intimacy.
Question 5: The 'disorganized' (fearful-avoidant) attachment style is often associated with:
- Overly strict but consistent parenting
- Childhood experiences of abuse or neglect where the caregiver was both a source of fear and comfort (Correct answer)
- Parents who encouraged extreme self-sufficiency
- Cultural norms that discourage emotional expression
Correct answer: Childhood experiences of abuse or neglect where the caregiver was both a source of fear and comfort
Disorganized attachment develops when a caregiver is simultaneously a source of fear and comfort, creating an unresolvable conflict for the child.
Question 6: In adult attachment research, the 'Adult Attachment Interview' (AAI) assesses attachment by analyzing:
- Current relationship satisfaction scores
- The coherence and consistency of narratives about childhood experiences (Correct answer)
- Physiological stress responses to partner separation
- Response times on standardized emotional recognition tasks
Correct answer: The coherence and consistency of narratives about childhood experiences
The AAI assesses adult attachment through the coherence, consistency, and collaborative nature of narratives about early caregiving experiences.
CRC CRC Attachment Theory & Relationship Patterns 1
John Bowlby's attachment theory proposes that the primary biological function of attachment is: