Abstract
The main focus of this chapter is to consider a developmental and psychosocial model of inner peace. Attachment theory suggests that early interpersonal experiences produce styles of attachment that are characterized as either secure or insecure. Attachment is thought to be an innate biological system which motivates the infant to seek the security of a caregiver. As an infant bonds with a caregiver, both physically and through limbic resonance, the infant develops affect-regulating ability. When the caretaker provides a secure base, affect regulation develops normally and the infant is soothed. However, when the caretaker provides an inconsistent or absent base of security, the infant develops affect-regulating behaviors that are often compensatory and ineffective. An insecurely attached child may grow into an adult who struggles with issues related to affect dysregulation. The chapter illustrates the role that affect regulation plays in intrapersonal and interpersonal peacefulness by presenting several case studies that portray attempts to develop and maintain inner peace through a variety of effective and ineffective coping mechanisms.
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Puopolo, M. (2014). The Role of Attachment and Affect Regulation in the Development and Maintenance of Personal Peacefulness. In: Sims, G., Nelson, L., Puopolo, M. (eds) Personal Peacefulness. Peace Psychology Book Series, vol 20. Springer, New York, NY. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-1-4614-9366-2_6
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