Description

The Adult Attachment Scale is a psychometric tool developed to assess adult attachment patterns in interpersonal relationships. Attachment theory, originally developed by John Bowlby and extended by Mary Ainsworth, suggests that early attachment experiences influence adult relationships. This scale evaluates different types of attachment, including secure, anxious, and avoidant attachment.

Purpose

The purpose of the Adult Attachment Scale is to measure the attachment styles that adults exhibit in romantic and other significant interpersonal relationships. This assessment can help in understanding the emotional and behavioral patterns that affect relationship quality and psychological well-being. Information from the scale can be used by psychologists, counselors, and researchers to develop interventions that promote healthy interpersonal attachment.

Analysis

The Adult Attachment Scale consists of a series of statements that assess three main dimensions of attachment:
Secure Attachment: Individuals who feel comfortable with closeness and depending on others.
Anxious Attachment: Individuals who worry about rejection and abandonment by others.
Avoidant Attachment: Individuals who avoid closeness and dependence on others.
Participants are asked to respond to the statements using a Likert scale (e.g., from 1 = Strongly Disagree to 5 = Strongly Agree).
The analysis of results includes:
Score Calculation: Responses are summed for each attachment dimension to calculate total scores.
Score Interpretation: Scores are compared with normative data to determine the individual’s attachment profile. Higher scores in specific dimensions indicate stronger tendencies toward the corresponding attachment type.
Statistical Analysis: Further analysis may be conducted to explore relationships between attachment types and other factors, such as relationship quality, mental health, self-esteem, and stress management.

Calibration

The calibration of the Adult Attachment Scale is conducted through studies on large and diverse adult samples to establish normative data and ensure the tool’s reliability and validity. Scores are standardized to allow for reliable comparisons across different populations and subgroups.

References

Collins, N. L., & Read, S. J. (1990). Adult attachment, working models, and relationship quality in dating couples. Journal of Personality and Social Psychology, 58(4), 644–663.
Hazan, C., & Shaver, P. (1987). Romantic love conceptualized as an attachment process. Journal of Personality and Social Psychology, 52(3), 511–524.
Brennan, K. A., Clark, C. L., & Shaver, P. R. (1998). Self-report measurement of adult attachment: An integrative overview. In J. A. Simpson & W. S. Rholes (Eds.), Attachment theory and close relationships (pp. 46–76). Guilford Press.
Bartholomew, K., & Horowitz, L. M. (1991). Attachment styles among young adults: A test of a four-category model. Journal of Personality and Social Psychology, 61(2), 226–244.
Fraley, R. C., Waller, N. G., & Brennan, K. A. (2000). An item response theory analysis of self-report measures of adult attachment. Journal of Personality and Social Psychology, 78(2), 350–365.