Dysfunctional Attachment

Paper Summary:

This paper examines dysfunctional attachment, especially the D (disorganized) form, as an a priori factor in the psychology of heroin addicts and as an impact on the therapeutic relationship. The author points out that Goodman and Hans (1999) investigated infants exposed to methadone in utero did not differ from comparison infants in indexes of proximity-seeking at reunion but did display higher scores on indexes of disorganized and avoidant behavior and lower scores on indexes of contact-maintaining behavior. The paper relates that because some people who can control their habit, indulging in heroin only on weekends, all addictions may not be allied to dysfunctional attachment patterns.

From the Paper:

"Carswell et al (2002) investigated a social control model for dealing with serious addiction in youthful abusers. They noted that some "argue that delinquency and substance abuse are learned behaviors produced by continued exposure to multiple risk factors associated with problems or deficits within the individual, family, peers, school, and community." Among these was conflict-ridden families, arguably resulting in dysfunctional attachment patterns. They investigated whether the standard protective factors-supportive parental relationships among them-were mitigating factors for both the dysfunctional behaviors and resulting abuse problems."

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