Bowlby (1973) stated that the attachment relationship between a child and parents might help the child in learning many skills important for survival, and with lifelong effects. However, there is a scarcity of research into attachment and intelligence in adulthood. This study examines the relationship between attachment status and cognitive skills in an Italian non-clinical sample of 101 young adults (M=22.60; SD=1.82). The Adult Attachment Projective Picture Stimuli (AAP, George & West, 2001) and the Wechsler Adult Intelligence Scale-Revised (WISC-R, Wechsler, 1981; Orsini & Laicardi, 1997) were administered to participants. Four-way attachment classifications were analyzed regarding participants' IQ. Statistically significant differences were found for Full Scale IQ and Verbal IQ, with Dismissing participants scoring higher than Unresolved participants. Similar results were obtained for two-way attachment patterns with Resolved participants scoring higher than Unresolved. Chi-squares were performed to analyze relationships between participants' IQs and attachment classifications. Implications regarding different attachment patterns and the concept of trauma are discussed.
Attachment pattern and cognitive skills: an exploratory study in an Italian non-clinical sample
DELVECCHIO, ELISA;PAZZAGLI, Chiara;MAZZESCHI, Claudia
2013
Abstract
Bowlby (1973) stated that the attachment relationship between a child and parents might help the child in learning many skills important for survival, and with lifelong effects. However, there is a scarcity of research into attachment and intelligence in adulthood. This study examines the relationship between attachment status and cognitive skills in an Italian non-clinical sample of 101 young adults (M=22.60; SD=1.82). The Adult Attachment Projective Picture Stimuli (AAP, George & West, 2001) and the Wechsler Adult Intelligence Scale-Revised (WISC-R, Wechsler, 1981; Orsini & Laicardi, 1997) were administered to participants. Four-way attachment classifications were analyzed regarding participants' IQ. Statistically significant differences were found for Full Scale IQ and Verbal IQ, with Dismissing participants scoring higher than Unresolved participants. Similar results were obtained for two-way attachment patterns with Resolved participants scoring higher than Unresolved. Chi-squares were performed to analyze relationships between participants' IQs and attachment classifications. Implications regarding different attachment patterns and the concept of trauma are discussed.I documenti in IRIS sono protetti da copyright e tutti i diritti sono riservati, salvo diversa indicazione.
