Vol. 25 No. 3 (2022)
Articles

INTIMATE PARTNER VIOLENCE: AN APPLICATION OF ATTACHMENT THEORY

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  • Maria Sokolova,
  • Diana Bakalova
DOI: https://doi.org/10.7546/PsyRB.2022.25.03.04

Published 09/12/2022

Keywords

  • attachment theory,
  • domestic violence,
  • intimate partner violence

How to Cite

Sokolova, M., & Bakalova, D. (2022). INTIMATE PARTNER VIOLENCE: AN APPLICATION OF ATTACHMENT THEORY. Psychological Research (in the Balkans), 25(3). https://doi.org/10.7546/PsyRB.2022.25.03.04

Copyright (c) 2022 Psychological Research (in the Balkans)

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This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License.

Abstract

Attachment theory has gained increased prominence over the past several decades in the fields of psychiatry, psychology, and social work. Early attachment theory and research focused primarily on infant-mother attachments, but latest attachment research is more concerned with adult love relationships. Different attachment pairings (of secure and insecure – avoidant and anxious/ambivalent attachment styles) in marital relationships were found to be closely associated with the relationship quality and emotional well-being. The literature review shows that attachment security enhances relationships, while attachment insecurity contributes to intimate partner violence. This report aims to review existing literature related to the application of attachment theory to intimate partner violence and to discuss the theory’s strengths and limitations in understanding and resolving intimate partner violence.

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