Utrygg tilknytning og sosial og emosjonell fungering

Abstract

Title: Insecure attachment and social and emotional functioning Background: Based on what I have learned through the study of social work and what I have experienced through work, I developed a great interest in studying the topics of insecure attachment and social and emotional functioning. Research question: In what way does insecure attachment affect human social and emotional functioning? Purpose: The purpose of this study is to find out what type of impact insecure attachment in childhood have on human social and emotional functioning in adolescence and young adulthood. I also wanted to see these conditions in the context of peoples interpersonal relationships. Method: This study is a systematic literature review, which studies information from already existing literature. Through systematic search and critical assessment, I found four research articles that I considered relevant to my research questions. Through a thematic analysis, I found three topics that were of great importance to the selected research articles. The themes are further used as a tool for categorizing findings and discussion. The research articles will be discussed in light of theory. Results: The findings from the research articles indicate that insecure attachments is expressed in individuals emotional functioning through coping strategies. These strategies are used to handle emotional reactions. Insecure attachments showed different types of effects on individuals social functioning. Some findings stated that it affected their self-perception in interactions with others. Externalizing behaviour and coping mechanism in interpersonal rejection were also affected due to insecure attachments. The research articles showed different results of proximity in interpersonal relationships for individuals with insecure attachments. Conclusion: I found that insecure attachment affects emotional and social functioning in several ways. Attachments is a complex phenomenon, and the topics that were studied have a mutual influence on each other.