From my mother's arms to my lover's arms : separation-individuation, attachment and romantic relationships

Abstract

This study was concerned with investigating if the relational pattern and attachment between mother and infant during childhood is repeated in same manner in adult heterosexual romantic relationship. The study was triangulated and administer to three females and three males. Attachment styles were assessed with the Hazan and Shaver, (1987) relationship questionnaire and confronted to data from a semi structured interview. Part one of this interview consisted of the Adult Attachment Interview, (George, Kaplan & Main, 1996). A Thematic Apperception Test was also administered to further substantiate findings. Data was analysed qualitatively by means of thematic analysis. Consistent with the literature on the topic under study, results from the self-report questionnaire assessing romantic attachment styles were found to be congruent with the descriptions of quality of care giving received in childhood as narrated in the semi structured interview. Findings indicate that parents, especially mothers, are highly influential in forming the child's working models that guide and shape behaviour in romantic relationships.