Brain Scans

One of the studies reported by Dr. Gillath involved fMRI studies on the brains of individuals as they were asked to “imagine” a variety of situations that increased from neutral to high anxiety. For example, they were asked to imagine five different situations in sequence, to think about one situation for two minutes and then stop thinking about it for two minutes before moving on to the next situation). The situations were:

1. A neutral driving experience
2. A relatively neutral experience with their partner or best friend such as grocery shopping
3. An experience where they argues or fought with their partner
4. An experience of seeing their partner packing preparatory to leaving the relationship
5. An experience where the police came with information that their partner had just been killed

Researchers noted what portions of the brain were activated in each situation.

“Nature” Contributors

Your genetic composition also plays a part in the Adult attachment style you may have developed. For example, in a study of saliva analysis, an Anxiety (A) attachment style was associated with dopamine receptors. You may recall that dopamine is a neurotransmitter that powers pathways in the extroverted brain (as opposed to acetylcholine that powers pathways in the introverted brain). Dopamine is often referred to as the “feel better” brain chemical, involved with addictive behaviors and the Brain Reward System, helping to manage emotions (50% is found in the GI System). An Avoidant (B) attachment style was associated with serotonin receptors. Serotonin is touted as both a hormone and a neurotransmitter. It acts as a neurotransmitter in the brain and nervous system impacting mood and sleep. In the GI system it can impact gastric secretions among other things (90% is found in the GI system).

Three Styles of Adult Attachment, 2

An Avoidant (B) attachment style is characterized by avoiding others and closeness with others. Contributors to an Avoidant attachment style include being raised in a cold or rejecting environment, if not punitive and outright abusive. Due to the emotional pain loaded into the child’s brain, the adult struggles with issues of security, closeness, and trust. They search for safety by “avoiding” close relationships, settling for superficial connections and/or a “friends with benefits” sexual alliance that is basically devoid of deep sharing and commitment. The Secure (C) attachment style is characterized by a tendency to find it easier to develop and maintain close relationships. It is more likely to be achieved by those who grew up in a supportive environment with a responsive parent or parents. In some studies 55%, of respondents indicated that they came from this type of environment. That leaves 45% who reported they did not experience this type of supportive and responsive environment during their growing-up years. Presumably, therefore, they would fall into either the Anxious attachment style or the Avoidant attachment style in adulthood. 

Styles of Adult Attachment

For purposes of this discussion, three main attachment styles can be outlined as:

A - Anxious

B - Avoidant

C - Secure

The style you tend to develop is impacted by Nature: your genetic makeup. It is also impacted by Nurture, the type of parents you received from your parents (Nurture) At first blush this might sound like it is cast in stone but nothing could be further from the truth. Since at least a portion of your style is learned, identifying your primary style at this point in your life gives you the opportunity to take steps to relearn a style that is more beneficial. An Anxious attachment style is characterized about worry and anxiety about your attachment relationships. Contributors to an anxious attachment style (A) includes being parented in an environment of inconsistency, or where your parents exhibited anxiety, or where they tried to force their views on you and you felt pressure to conform (at least outwardly) to their perspectives. 

Adult Attachment and Health

In a TED talk, Dr. Gillath indicated that the way to happiness goes through love. The #1 predictor of happiness is loving someone and being loved in return. This also impacts one’s health and longevity. Without this level of attachment, one’s health can negatively be impacted even more adversely than can occur with smoking, heavy drinking, inactivity, or obesity. Adult attachment can be described as a strong emotional tie that bonds you to another individual. It doesn’t require marriage or living together; it does require reciprocal connection, communication, sense of security, and trust with a minimum of characteristics involving anxiety, worry, and avoidance. In other words, it is a two-way street. One person can love another and not even tell the individual about it. Achieving adult attachment that positively impacts your health and longevity, however, requires ongoing connection to enhance the attachment. More tomorrow.

Brain & Adult Attachment, 3

What happens when individuals develop a “disposable attitude” toward objects in a mobile society? Unfortunately, this seems in many cases to translate to a disposable attitude toward friendships. The brain tends to view them as replaceable, as well. And turning to close adult friendships, including romantic relationships, most individuals in a survey indicated they’d just move on if things got difficult rather than investing time and energy into trying to make this works. According to Dr. Gillath, these types of attitudes can be psychologically unhealthy. He says: “Only deeper high-quality ties provide us with the kind of support we need like love, understanding, and respect. You need these very close ties to feel safe and secure and function properly. If social ties are seen as disposable, you’re less likely to get what you need from your network, which can negatively affect your mental and physical health as well as your longevity.

Brain & Adult Attachment, 2

Researcher and social neuroscientist, Omri Gillath PhD, is associate professor in the Department of Psychology and the Hoglund Brain Imaging Center at the University of Kansas. His work focuses on human pair-bonding, the effects of personality on cognition and behavior, adult attachment, and the way to happiness. Some of his findings are outlined in his book Adult Attachment: A Concise Introduction to Theory and Research. Studies indicate that the more people have moved around the country, the more they tend to have a disposable view of both objects and close social ties. Dr. Gillath was quoted as saying: “We found a correlation between the way you look at objects and perceive your relationships. If you move around a lot, you develop attitudes of disposability toward objects, furniture, books, devices, basically whatever merchandise you have at home, even your car.” More tomorrow.