The Relation of Attachment Styles and Relational Aggression: The Mediation of Shame and Guilt

Subject Areas : Clinical psychology

Samaneh  Khazaei ¹ (PhD in Counseling)
Shokooh  Navabinejad ² (Kharazmi University)
Valiollah  Farzad ³ (Kharazmi University)
Kianoosh  Zahrakar ⁴ (PhD Associate Professor, Kharazmi University)

Received: 2018-04-07 Accepted : 2018-04-07 Published : 2017-12-22

Keywords: attachment styles, Feelings of shame and guilt, Covert relational aggression,

Abstract :

this study aimed to investigate the mediating role of shame and guilt in the relationship between attachment styles and covert relational aggression among married men. The sample consisted of 350 married men from Birjand, Iran. The participants were elementary school students’ fathers who participated in the study voluntarily. The participants completed the Attachment Styles Scale (Collins & Read, 1990), the Test of Self-Conscious Affect (shame and guilt) (Tangney, Wagner & Gomez, 1989), and the Revised Adult Attachment Scale (Nelson & Carroll, 2006). The data were analyzed by Pearson correlation and structural equation modeling (SEM). The results indicated the anxious and secure attachment styles related significantly to love withdrawal through shame. The anxious and secure attachment styles related significantly to social sabotage through shame and guilt. The findings suggested that shame plays a role between anxious and secure attachment styles and covert  relational aggression in men.

References:

امانی، ا.، ثنایی‌ذاکر، ب.، نظری، ع. و نامداری‌پژمان، م. (۱۳۹۰). اثربخشی دو رویکرد طرح‌واره درمانی و دلبستگی‌درمانی بر سبک‌های دلبستگی در دانشجویان در مرحلة عقد. مشاوره و روان‌درمانی خانواده. 1 (2)، ۱9۱-171.

انوشه‌ای، م.، پورشهریاری، م. س. و ثنایی‌ذاکر، ب. (۱۳۸۵). بررسی رابطة بین ادراک دختران از الگوهای تربیتی والدین‌‌شان با احساس شرم وگناه در آن‌ها. تازه‌‌ها و پژوهش‌های مشاوره، 7 (27) ،26-7.

بشارت، م. ع. (۱۳۹۱). نقش واسطه‌ای مکانیزم‌های دفاعی در رابطة بین سبک‌های دلبستگی و ناگویی هیجانی. روان‌شناسی کاربردی، ۱ (21)، 22-7.

بشارت. م. ع.، محمدی‌حاصل، ک.، نیک‌فرجام، م.ر.، ذبیح‌زاده، ع. و فلاح، م. ح. (۱۳۹۲). مقایسة سبک‌های دلبستگی در بیماران مبتلا به افسردگی، اختلالات اضطرابی و افراد عادی. روان‌شناسی تحولی: روان‌شناسان ایرانی، 9 (35)، 326-227.

پاکدامن، ش. (۱۳۸۰). بررسی ارتباط بین دلبستگی و جامعه‌طلبی در نوجوانی. پایان‌نامة دکترای روان‌شناسی، دانشکدة روان‌شناسی و علوم تربیتی. دانشگاه تهران.

ثنایی، ب.، هومن، ع. و علاقبند، س. (1387). مقیاس‌های سنجش خانواده و ازدواج. تهران: انتشارات بعثت.

حسین‌آبادی، م. (۱۳۹۰). اثربخشی گروه درمانی وجودی انسان‌گرایانه بر میزان سلامت روان زندانیان و بررسی سهم عزت نفس و احساس شرم در بهبود سلامت روان. پایان‌نامة کارشناسی ارشد. دانشکدة روان‌شناسی و علوم تربیتی، دانشگاه فردوسی مشهد.

حیرت، ع.، فاتحی‌زاده، م.، احمدی، ا.، اعتمادی، ع. و بهرامی، ف. (۱۳۹۳). نقش ابعاد سبک زندگی زوجی در پیش‌بینی سازگاری زناشویی. زن و جامعه، ۵ (2)، 158-145.

خوبانی، م.، زاده‌محمدی، ع. و جراره، ج. (۱۳۹۲). اثربخشی آموزش روان‌نمایش‌گری بر مهارت‌های ارتباطی و پرخاشگری دختران پرخاشگر. روان‌شناسی کاربردی. 4 (28)، 44-27.

زارع، ح.، غباری بناب، ب.، شمس‌نطنزی، ع. و صادق‌خانی، ا. (۱۳۹۲). رابطة بین سبک‌های دلبستگی و بخشش با رضایت زناشویی زوج‌ها. فصلنامة مشاوره و روان‌درمانی خانواده ـ دانشگاه کردستان، 22،
43-8..

زارعی، س.، فرحبخش، ک. و اسماعیلی، م. (۱۳۹۰). تعیین سهم خودمتمایزسازی، اعتماد، شرم و گناه در پیش‌‌بینی سازگاری زناشویی. دانش و پژوهش در روان‌شناسی کاربردی، 3 (45)، 63-51.

زرگر، ی.، مردانی، م. و مهرابی‌زاده‌هنرمند، م. (۱۳۹۱). اثربخشی مداخلة شناختی‌ـ‌رفتاری بر کمال‌گرایی و احساس گناه در دانشجویان. روان‌شناسی کاربردی، 4 (24)، 85-71.

صیادپور، ز. (۱۳۸۶). ارتباط بین حرمت خود و سبک دلبستگی. فصلنامه روان‌شناسی تحولی: روان‌شناسان ایرانی، 3 (12)، 321-311.

 

Abrams, J. (2009). What's reality got to do with it? Projective processes in adult intimate relation­ships. Psychoanalytic Social Work, 16(2), 126-138.

Akbag, M., & Imamoglu, S. E. (2010). The prediction of gender and attachment styles on shame, guilt, and loneliness. Educational Sciences: Theory and Practice, 10(2), 669-682.

Balci, K., & Salah, A. A. (2015). Automatic analysis and identification of verbal aggression and abusive behaviors For online social games. Computers In Human Behavior, 53, 517-526.

Bélanger, C., Mathieu, C., Dugal, C., & Courchesne, C. (2015). The impact of attachment on intimate partner violence perpetrated by women. The American Journal of Family Therapy, 43(5), 441-453.

Ben‌Ari, R., & Hirshberg, I. (2009). Attachment styles, conflict perception, and adolescents' strategies of coping with interpersonal conflict. Negotiation Journal, 25(1), 59-82.

Benjamin, A. J. (2016). Aggression.  In H. S. Friedman, Encyclopedia of Mental Health (pp.33-39). New York: Academic Press

Besharat, M. A. (2010). Relationship of alexithymia with coping styles and interpersonal problems. Procedia Social and Behavioral Sciences, 5, 614-618.

Besser, A., & Priel, B. (2006). Models of attachment, confirmation of positive affective expectations, and satisfaction with vacation activities: A pre–post panel design study of leisure. Personality and Individual Differences, 41(6), 1055-1065.

Blalock, D. V., Franzese, A. T., Machell, K. A., & Strauman, T. J. (2015). Attachment style and self-regulation: How our patterns in relationships re­flect broader motivational styles. Personality and Individual Differences, 87, 90-98.

Blavier, D. C., & Glenn, E. (1995). The role of shame in perceptions of marital equity, intimacy, and competency. The American Journal of Family Therapy, 23(1), 73-82.

Bowlby, J. (1973). Attachment and loss 2. Separation, anxiety and anger. New York: Basic Books.

Burnette, J. L., Taylor, K. W., Worthington, E. L., & Forsyth, D. R. (2007). Attachment and trait forgivingness: The mediating role of angry rumination. Personality and Individual Differ­ences, 42(8), 1585-1596.

Carroll, J. S., Nelson, D. A., Yorgason, J. B., Harper, J. M. Ashton, R. H., & Jensen, A. C. (2010). Relational aggression in marriage. Aggressive Behavior, 36(5), 315-329.

Chung, K., & Choi, E. (2014). Attachment styles and mother’s well-being among mothers of preschool children in Korea: The mediating role of marital satisfaction. Personality and Individual Differ­ences, 69, 135-139.

Clifford, C. E. (2013). Attachment and Covert Relational Aggression in Marriagewith Shame as a Potential Moderating Variable: A TwoWave Panel Study. Master of science thesis, Brigham Young University.

Collins, N.L., & Read, S. J. (1990). Adult attachment, working models, and relationship quality in dating couples. Journal of Personality and Social Psy­chology, 58, 644-663.

Consedine, N. S., & Magai, C. (2003). Attachment and emotion experience in later life: The view from emotions theory. Attachment & Human Devel­opment, 5(2), 165-187.

Cramer, C. M. (2015). Relational Aggression/ Victimization and Depression in Married Couples. Doctorial dissertation, Brigham Young Uni­versity.

Curtis, D. S., Epstein, N. B., & Wheeler, B. (2015). Relationship Satisfaction Mediates the Link Between Partner Aggression and Relationship Dissolution The Importance of Considering Severity. Journal of Interpersonal Violence, 32 (8), 1187-1208.

Dearing, R. L., Stuewig, J., & Tangney, J. P. (2005). On the importance of distinguishing shame from guilt: Relations to problematic alcohol and drug use. Addictive Beاhaviors, 30(7), 1392-1404.

Dutton, D. G., & White, K. R. (2012). Attachment insecurity and intimate partner violence. Aggressionand Violent Behavior, 17(5), 475-481.

Erzar , T., Torkar, M., & Erzar, K. K. (2010). Shame-proneness and its correlates in couples.

Feiring, C.,. & Taska, L. S. (2005). The persistence of shame following sexual abuse: A longitudinal lookat risk and recovery. Child Maltreatment, 10(4), 337-349.

Ferguson, T. J., Eyre, H. L., & Ashbaker, M. (2000). Unwanted identities: A key variable in shame–anger links and gender differences in shame. Sex Roles, 42(3,4), 133-157.

Fournier, B., Brassard, A., & Shaver, P. R. (2010). Adult attachment and male aggression in couple relationships: The demand-withdraw commu­nication pattern and relationship satisfaction as mediators. Journal of  Interpersonal Violence, 26(10), 1982-2003.

Frankel, L. A., Umemura, T., Jacobvitz, D., & Hazen, N. (2015). Marital conflict and parental responses to infant negative emotions: relations with toddler emotional regulation. Infant Behavior and Devel­opment, 40, 73-83.

Gailliot, M. T., Baumeister, R. F., DeWall, C. N., Maner, J. K., Plant, E. A., Tice, D. M., & Schmeichel, B. J. (2007). Self-control relies on glucose as a limited energy source: willpower is more than a metaphor. Journal of Personality and Social Psychology, 92(2), 325.

Gilbert, P., McEwan, K., Mitra, R., Franks, L., Richter, A., & Rockliff, H. (2008). Feeling Safe and Con­tent: A Specific Affect Regulation System? Rela­tionship to Depression, Anxiety, Stress, and Self-Criticism. The Journal of Positive Psychology, 3(3), 182–191.

George, D., Luo, S., Webb, J., Pugh, J., Martinez, A., & Foulston, J. (2015). Couple similarity on stim­ulus characteristics and marital satisfaction. Per­sonality and Individual Differences, 86, 126-131.

Gresham, D., & Gullone, E. (2012). Emotion regulation strategy use in children and adolescents: The ex­planatory roles of personality and attachment. Personality and Individual Differences, 52, 616-621.

Harper, J. M. (2011). Regulating and Coping With Shame. In R. Trnka, K. Balcar, & M. Kuška, Re­constructing Emotional Spaces: From Experience to Regulation (pp. 189-206). Prague: University of Prague Press.

Harper, J. M., & Hoopes, M. H. (1990).Uncovering shame: An approach integrating individuals and their family systems: WW Norton & Co.

Johns, M., Inzlicht, M., & Schmader, T. (2008). Stere­otype threat and executive resource depletion: ex­amining the influence of emotion regulation. Journal of Experimental Psychology: General, 137(4), 691.

Jong, C. (2005). Shame And Guilt Among Asian Americans. Argosy University, Honolulu, Hawaii.

Leary, M. R. (2015). Emotional responses to interpersonal rejection. Dialogues in Clinical Neuroscience, 17(4), 435.

Linder, J. R., Crick, N. R., & Collins, W. A. (2002). Relational aggression and victimization in youngadults' romantic relationships: Associations with perceptions of parent, peer, and romantic relationship quality. Social Development, 11(1), 69-86.

Madsen, C. A. (2012). The impact of marital power on relational aggression. Doctorial dissertation Kansas State University.

Mallinckrodt, B., & Wei, M. (2005). Attachment, social competencies, social support, and psychological distress. Journal of Counseling Psychology, 52, 358–367.

Meng, K. N. (2013). Couple Implicit Rules for Facilitating Disclosure and Relationship Quality with Romantic Relational Aggression as a Mediator. Retrieved March 23, 2013 from http://scholarsarchive.byu.edu/etd

Meng, X., D’Arcy, C., & Adams, G. C. (2015). Associations between adult attachment style and mental health care utilization: Findings from a large-scale national survey. Psychiatry Research, 229(1),454-461.

Mikulincer, M., & Orbach, I. (1995). Attachment styles and repressive defensiveness: the accessibility and architecture of affective memories. Journal of Personality and Social Psychology, 68(5), 917-925.

Mikulincer, M., & Shaver, P. R. (2007). Contributions of attachment theory and research to motivation science. In J. Shah & W. Gardner (eds.), Handbook of motivation science. New York: Guilford Press.

Mills, R. S. (2005). Taking stock of the developmental literature on shame. Developmental Review,25(1), 26-63.

Monteoliva, A. (2012). Differences between men and women with a dismissing attachment style regard­ing their attitudes and behavior in romantic rela­tionships. International Journal of Psychology, 47(5), 335-345.

Morales, J. R., & Crick, N. R. (1998). Self-report meas­ure of aggression and victimization. Unpublished measure.

Muris, P., Meesters, C., Cima, M., Verhagen, M., Brochard, N., Sanders, A., & Meesters, V. (2014). Bound to feel bad about oneself: Relations between attachment and the self-conscious emotionsof guilt and shame in children and adolescents. Journal of Child and Family Studies, 23(7), 1278-1288.

Nelson D. A., & Carroll, J. S. (2006). Couples Relational Aggression and Victimization Scale (CRAS). Provo, UT: RELATE Institute.

Oka, M., Sandberg, J. G., Bradford, A. B., & Brown, A. (2014). Insecure attachment behavior and partner violence: Incorporating couple perceptions of in­secure attachment and relational aggression. Jour­nal of Marital and Family Therapy, 40(4), 412-429.

Ooi, Y. P., Ang, R. P., Fung, D. S., Wong, G., & Cai, Y. (2006). The impact of parent–child attachmen on aggression, social stress and self-esteem. School Psychology International, 27(5), 552-566.

Palmer, G., & Lee, A. (2008). Clinical Update: Adult Attachment. Family Therapy Magazine, 7, 36-42.

Parade, S. H., Leerkes, E. M. (2011). Marital Aggression Predicts Infant Orienting Toward Mother At Six Months. Infant Behavior And Development, 34(2), 235-238.

Ratip, D. E. (2013). The role of attachment in violent offending and violence in institutions. Doctorial dissertation, University of Birmingham.

Renshaw, K. D., Blais, R. K., & Smith, T. W. (2010). Components of negative affectivity and marital satisfaction: The importance of actor and partner anger. Journal of Research in Personality, 44(3), 328-334.

Semenyna, S. W., & Vasey, P. L. (2015). Victimization Due To Bullying And Physical Aggression. InSamoan Men And Women. Personality and Individual Differences, 87, 85-89.

Srivastava, S., & Beer, J. S. (2005). How self-evaluations relate to being liked by others: integratingsociometer and attachment perspec­tives. Journal of Personality and Social Psy­chology, 89(6), 966-976.

Stein, M. B., Siefert, C. J., Stewart, R. V., & Hilsenroth, M. J. (2011). Relationship between the Social Cognition and Object Relations Scale (SCORS) and attachment style in a clinical sample. Clinical Psychology & Psychotherapy, 18(6), 512-523.

Stith, S. M., McCollum, E. E., & Rosen, K. H. (2011). Couples therapy for domestic violence: Finding safe solutions. Washington, DC: American Psy­chological Association.

Tangney, J. P., & Dearing, R. L. (2002). Shame, guilt, and psychopathology. Shame and Guilt, 7, 112-129.

Taube-Schiff, M., Van Exan, J., Tanaka, R., Wnuk, S., Hawa, R., & Sockalingam, S. (2015). Attachment style and emotional eating in bariatric surgery candidates: The mediating role of difficulties in emotion regulation. Eating Behaviors, 18, 36-40.

Tomas-Tolentino, G. H. (2010). The relationship among adult attachment styles, shame, dis­sociation, and abuse characteristics in women survivors of intrafamilial child sexual abuse perpetratedby a parental-figure. Doctorial dis­sertation, Loyola University Chicago.

Tracy, J. L., & Robins, R. W. (2006). Appraisal ante­cedents of shame and guilt: Support for a theoret­ical model. Personality and Social Psychology Bulletin, 32(10), 1339-1351.

Williams, S. K., & Kelly, F. D. (2005). Relationships among involvement, attachment, and behavioral problems in adolescence: Examining father’s in­fluence. The Journal of Early Adolescence, 25(2), 168-196.

Woodhouse, S., Ayers, S., & Field, A. P. (2015). The relationship between adult attachment style and post-traumatic stress symptoms: A meta-analysis. Journal of Anxiety Disorders, 35, 103-117