PPT Slide
What Does the Stability of the Unresolved Classification Tell Us about It’s Meaning?
T. Lawrence-Savane, Gina Abbott, Wm Andrew Mullane, Britt Burner
The Adult Attachment Interview (AAI; George, et al., 1985; Main & Goldwyn, 1994) assesses childhood attachment representations based on experiences with parents (secure, dismissing, and preoccupied). These patterns have high stability (Bakermans-Kranenburg & van IJzendoorn, 1993; Benoit & Parker, 1994; Sagi, et al., 1994; Treboux & Crowell, 2001). The AAI also assesses an alternative pattern, called “Unresolved” or U, characterized by disorganized discourse about extra-ordinary attachment-related events (loss of a close person and/or abuse by an attachment figure). Therefore, the U classification has its origins in traumatic experience rather than day-to-day parent-child relationships.
The U classification has been related to psychopathology, but findings vary considerably across studies (e.g., Allen, et al., 1996; Colon-Downs, 1994; Patrick, et al., 1994; van IJzendoorn & Bakermans-Kranenburg, 1996). In addition, stability of the classification varies (54-82%), with 16-17% becoming “U” over intervals of 2-14 months (e.g., Bakermans-Kranenburg & van IJzendoorn, 1993; Benoit & Parker, 1994).
Bowlby (1980) suggests that events such as loss disrupt the equilibrium of the attachment system. In “normal” mourning the disruption is temporary, suggesting that U status could be time-limited. The significance of the classification with respect to behavior and pathology may vary depending on whether the U state of mind is temporary or stable. In this study, stability of the U classification, and factors associated with stability, were examined across the transition to marriage to help clarify the meaning of the classification.