adult attachment interview pdf

The Adult Attachment Interview (AAI) is a semi-structured interview assessing adult attachment patterns, focusing on early relationships and their influence on emotional development and behavior.

1.1. What is the Adult Attachment Interview (AAI)?

The Adult Attachment Interview (AAI) is a semi-structured interview designed to assess adult attachment patterns by exploring early relationships and experiences with primary caregivers. It focuses on how individuals process and make sense of their attachment history, identifying their attachment style as secure, insecure (anxious, avoidant, or disorganized), or earned secure. The AAI is not a questionnaire but a detailed, in-depth conversation lasting about 60-90 minutes. It emphasizes the coherence and consistency of the narrative, rather than specific events, to understand the individual’s internal working model of attachment. This interview is widely used in research and clinical settings to understand how early attachment experiences influence adult emotional and relational functioning.

1.2. History and Development of the AAI

The Adult Attachment Interview (AAI) was developed in the mid-1980s by Mary Main and Ruth Goldwyn, building on the attachment theory work of John Bowlby and Mary Ainsworth. The AAI emerged as a tool to assess adult attachment patterns, shifting focus from child-parent interactions to adults’ internal representations of attachment. Drawing from extensive research on attachment narratives, Main and Goldwyn designed the interview to explore how adults reflect on their early relationships and experiences. Over time, the AAI has undergone refinement, with the addition of subcategories like “earned secure” to capture the complexity of attachment development. Its development marked a significant advancement in understanding how early attachment shapes adult emotional functioning and relationships, making it a cornerstone in attachment research and clinical practice.

1.3. Key Concepts and Principles of Adult Attachment

Adult attachment theory explores how early caregiver relationships shape adult emotional functioning, relationship patterns, and mental health. Key concepts include attachment styles—secure, anxious, avoidant, and disorganized—which reflect how individuals perceive intimacy, trust, and emotional support. The AAI examines these styles by assessing narrative coherence, emotional processing, and the ability to reflect on past experiences. Central principles emphasize the influence of early attachment on internal working models, or mental representations, of self and others. These models guide expectations, behaviors, and emotional responses in adult relationships. Adult attachment also highlights the role of emotional regulation, security-seeking behaviors, and the potential for attachment patterns to evolve over time. Understanding these concepts provides insights into interpersonal dynamics, resilience, and vulnerability to psychological distress.

1.4. Importance of the AAI in Psychological Assessment

The Adult Attachment Interview (AAI) holds significant importance in psychological assessment as it provides deep insights into an individual’s attachment patterns and their impact on mental health. By exploring narratives about early relationships, the AAI helps identify attachment styles, such as secure, anxious, avoidant, or disorganized, which are linked to emotional regulation, resilience, and interpersonal functioning. This tool is invaluable for clinicians in diagnosing and understanding attachment-related issues, guiding therapeutic interventions, and predicting relationship outcomes. Additionally, the AAI contributes to research by offering a standardized method to study attachment across the lifespan. Its ability to uncover unresolved trauma and attachment insecurities makes it a powerful instrument for assessing psychological well-being and informing treatment plans. Thus, the AAI bridges theory and practice, enhancing both clinical and research endeavors in psychology.

Structure of the Adult Attachment Interview

The Adult Attachment Interview is a semi-structured assessment tool designed to evaluate adult attachment patterns through open-ended questions about early relationships and emotional experiences, analyzing narrative coherence and emotional depth.

2.1. The Interview Process and Procedure

The Adult Attachment Interview is a semi-structured, in-depth assessment conducted by a trained interviewer. It typically lasts 1-2 hours, during which participants are asked to reflect on their early caregiving experiences, relationships with parents or primary caregivers, and experiences of loss or trauma. The interviewer guides the conversation to explore how these experiences have shaped the individual’s attachment style and emotional regulation. The process emphasizes narrative coherence, with participants encouraged to provide specific examples and emotional reflections. The interviewer avoids leading questions, ensuring a neutral and non-directive approach. The interview is audio-recorded and transcribed for later analysis, focusing on both content and the way the individual discusses their experiences. This structured yet open-ended format allows for a nuanced understanding of adult attachment patterns.

2.2. Scoring and Classification of Attachment Styles

The Adult Attachment Interview is scored using a standardized system to classify attachment styles into secure, insecure, or unresolved categories. Trained coders evaluate the transcript for coherence, emotional depth, and consistency in recounting early relationships. The scoring focuses on how individuals describe their experiences, rather than the experiences themselves. Securely attached individuals demonstrate a balanced, reflective narrative, while insecure styles include dismissing (avoidant) or preoccupied (anxious) patterns. Unresolved attachment is identified when there is significant disorganization or lack of integration, often linked to trauma. The classification system provides insight into attachment security and its implications for emotional regulation and relationships. This scoring process is rigorous and reliable, ensuring consistent assessment across diverse populations. The AAI’s classification system is a cornerstone of adult attachment research and clinical practice.

2.3. Reliability and Validity of the AAI

The Adult Attachment Interview has demonstrated strong reliability and validity as a measure of adult attachment. The AAI’s reliability is supported by consistent coding across trained raters, ensuring accurate classification of attachment styles. Validity is established through its ability to predict attachment-related outcomes, such as relationship quality and mental health. The interview’s focus on narrative coherence and emotional processing aligns with attachment theory, providing a robust framework for understanding attachment patterns. Extensive research has confirmed its effectiveness in distinguishing between secure, insecure, and unresolved attachment styles. The AAI’s reliability and validity make it a trusted tool in both clinical and research settings, offering deeper insights into the role of attachment in adult functioning and well-being. Its rigorous methodology ensures that findings are consistent and meaningful across diverse populations.