Attachment, Trauma, and Mentalization in Intimate Partner Violence: A Preliminary Investigation

Abstract

Intimate partner violence (IPV) has been examined from a range of theoretical perspectives, including attachment theory, with the aim of assessing psychosocial risk factors. Previous research has shown that a child’s exposure to violence in the family is a major predictor of IPV victimization later in life. Furthermore, research on abused and traumatized adult samples has shown high frequencies of unresolved/disorganized attachment styles. In particular, disorganized attachment is associated with major problems of affect regulation and deficits in mentalizing ability. The present research had three aims: (a) to assess the childhood traumatic experiences of female victims of IPV; (b) to investigate and identify the attachment patterns of female victims of IPV; and (c) to examine reflective functioning and prementalistic modes in female victims of IPV, in relation to attachment and trauma. A sample of 31 women, recruited through anti-violence centers, were administered the Adult Attachment Interview (AAI) and the Reflective Functioning Questionnaire. The Complex Trauma Questionnaire and the Reflective Functioning Scale (RFS) were also applied to the AAI transcripts. Interviews were audio recorded and transcribed verbatim. Coding was conducted by two trained coders and certified as reliable for the AAI and RFS. Clinicians completed the Modes of Mentalization Scale (MMS) to assess participants’ mentalization style. The data showed a high percentage of women with insecure attachment and lower reflective functioning. The results are discussed in terms of their clinical and theoretical implications—particularly their application to psycho-forensics, through the development of preventive programs and interventions for IPV. Efforts to understand the etiology of IPV and to intervene to prevent recidivism are fundamental in reducing this public health threat.

The Role of Complex Trauma and Attachment Patterns in Intimate Partner Violence

“…While there is a large body of research investigating the role of attachment insecurity in IPV, the scarcity of studies thoroughly examining attachment disorganization (Spencer et al, 2021) appears therefore surprising. The results of our work confirm those obtained by the few other preliminary studies that have explored attachment representations in women with an history of IPV using the AAI or other projective measures (Alexander, 2009;Pallini et al, 2017;Condino et al, 2020).…”

Intimate partner violence: Narratives of attachment relationships and linguistic analysis of emotional schemas through a quali-quantitative approach.

“…This more demanding methodology highlights unconscious aspects of the attachment pattern with the childhood caregiver and their repetition in the interpersonal relationship. Our results confirm the findings in the literature that there is a close link between infantile IWM and IPV (Condino et al, 2022; Doumas et al, 2008; Hassija et al, 2018; Henderson et al, 2005; Kuijpers et al, 2012; McKeown, 2014; Mikulincer & Shaver, 2011). As hypothesized, secure attachment was significantly less present in the group of women survivors of IPV, compared to controls.…”

“…The first hypothesis investigated whether there was a close relationship between a predominantly internalized attachment pattern in childhood and a relationship with IPV. Generally, as highlighted in the recent meta-analysis (Spencer et al, 2021), many studies highlight the close relationship between attachment, early relational traumas, and IPV victimization and perpetration using Likert measures, while very few studies explore attachment using the AAI (Alexander, 2009; Condino et al, 2022; Imperatori et al, 2022). This more demanding methodology highlights unconscious aspects of the attachment pattern with the childhood caregiver and their repetition in the interpersonal relationship.…”

“…The association between insecure attachment patterns and IPV perpetration and victimization has been confirmed by several studies (Cautadella et al, 2021;Condino et al, 2022;Gibby & Whiting, 2023;Shaver et al, 2017;Velotti et al, 2022). However, to our knowledge, only three of those studies have been employed with women survivors of IPV by means of instruments that are able to capture unconscious dimensions of attachment, such as autobiographical interviews or projective tests; these found a high prevalence of insecure attachment, specifically unresolved/ disorganized attachment patterns (Alexander, 2009;Condino et al, 2022;Pallini et al, 2017).…”

“…These IWMs include mental representations of the self, the other, and of the relationship between self and other. Moreover, this model defines the degree to which individuals believe themselves to be lovable and worthy of affection, as well as the degree to which they believe others are trustworthy, reliable, and affectively responsive (Condino et al, 2022). Several authors have emphasized the role of insecure attachment patterns as a key predictor of IPV, in terms of both perpetration (Dutton, 2011; Fonagy, 2003) and victimization (Henderson et al, 2005; Kuijpers et al, 2012).…”