Definition
Organized-insecure attachment denotes patterns of attachment behavior in relation to the caregiver that are organized but which, in comparison to secure attachment, are inflexible and suboptimal (e.g., lower in quality). The less than optimal organization is seen in a decreased ability to use the caregiver as a secure base to explore the environment from and as a safe haven to return to for comfort and protection when distressed. The insecure-avoidant pattern is particularly characterized by a decreased ability to turn to the caregiver for support when distressed (e.g., as a safe haven), with these children showing avoidant behaviors such as turning away from and/or ignoring their caregiver in the strange situation procedure (termed a “minimizing strategy”). The insecure-ambivalent/resistant pattern is characterized by a decreased ability to use the caregiver as a reference point for exploration of the environment (e.g., as a secure base), with these children showing high...
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Forslund, T., Granqvist, P. (2016). Organized-Insecure Attachment. In: Weekes-Shackelford, V., Shackelford, T., Weekes-Shackelford, V. (eds) Encyclopedia of Evolutionary Psychological Science. Springer, Cham. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-319-16999-6_1961-1
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DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-319-16999-6_1961-1
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