Attachment Style and Dysfunctional Career Thoughts: How Attachment Style Can Affect the Career Counseling Process

Abstract

Saunders, 1994a). Two hypotheses related to attachment style and dysfunctional career thoughts were tested with 46 adult immigrants (17 men, 29 women). Results show that both attachment anxiety and avoidance were significantly related to scores on the CTI; increased attachment avoidance also significantly correlated with decision-making confusion and external conflict. Implications of the relationship between attachment style and dysfunctional career thoughts for the career counseling process are discussed.

What Predicts Career Adaptability?: An Application of Achievement Goal Theory and Adult Attachment Theory

“…On the other hand, the results yielded no support for the hypothesis that avoidant attachment negatively predicts CA. This conflicts both with the predictions of adult attachment theory and with existing findings that insecure attachment negatively predicts career exploration behaviors (Littman-Ovadia, 2008), career self-efficacy (Ecke, 2007), emotion regulation (Kafetsios et al, 2014), and coping with stress (Leiter et al, 2015). There are various feasible explanations for this finding.…”

“…In theory, insecurely attached individuals should engage in less exploratory behaviors since they do not experience a “secure base” to explore from (Ainsworth et al, 1978). In line with this theoretical view, studies across the globe have found that avoidant and anxious attachment styles both negatively predict career exploration behaviors (Littman-Ovadia, 2008) and career self-efficacy (Ecke, 2007). Those with high levels of insecure attachment are hence theoretically less likely to actively plan career developmental tasks and transitions.…”

“…In this study, I aim to contribute to this existing literature by testing whether CA could have certain malleable psychosocial antecedents. In particular, I draw upon achievement goal theory and adult attachment theory since both theories have been successfully used to predict coping mechanisms and similar career development behaviors (e.g., Ecke, 2007; Wolters, Shirley, & Pintrich, 1996). By doing so, this study aims to illuminate whether there are factors that workers, supervisors, or organizations can influence to foster CA and its well-established benefits in practice.…”

The Influence of Family of Origin Relationships on Career Thoughts

“…To the extent that the student grew up in a family where open expression of feelings was not encouraged, they may have difficulty expressing their feelings to their counselor about career decision-making problems. In order for the counselor to effectively address dysfunctional career thoughts, the student must be willing to openly discuss career and personal issues (Ecke, 2007).…”

Attachment, Career-Choice Pessimism, and Intrinsic Motivation as Predictors of College Students’ Career Adaptability

“…Research demonstrated that adolescents with greater levels of peer attachment have greater levels of career exploration and commitment (Felsman & Bluestein, 1999). Secure attachment has been reported to be linked to lower career thought dysfunction (Ecke, 2007). Therefore, attachment with peers would influence CA because secure peer attachment promotes career explorations and commitment (Blustein et al, 1995).…”