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.
