Dissertations and Theses
Date of Award
2021
Document Type
Dissertation
Department
Psychology
First Advisor
Sasha Rudenstine
Second Advisor
Adriana Espinosa
Third Advisor
Eric Fertuck
Keywords
attachment, personality, trait emotional intelligence, emotion regulation, adverse childhood experiences, clinical sample
Abstract
There are well-established connections between unfavorable attachment experiences and subsequent personality pathology. Individuals with adverse attachment experiences and those with personality pathology have been found to have difficulty with emotional awareness and emotion regulation. Attachment characteristics inform emotional intelligence and emotion regulation, while emotional intelligence and emotion regulation capacities can be protective against personality pathology and serve as a potential mechanism of positive change in one’s attachment. Complex trauma disrupts attachment and the subsequent development of emotional intelligence, emotion regulation, as well as personality structure.
In this dissertation, we examine the ways in which individual attachment patterns can be linked to one’s personality organization. We also investigate how the ability to take a reflective stance when thinking about internal states in the self and others, as well as the capacity to manage one’s affective experiences, contribute to this link. In addition, we examine the contribution of potentially traumatic experiences in the aforementioned relations by investigating two alternative roles adverse childhood experiences can play in the interrelation between the constructs. The clinical implications of this research include a more nuanced case conceptualization, leading to an easier determination of the most efficacious treatment approach.
Recommended Citation
Gvozdieva, Kseniia, "The Contribution of Adverse Childhood Experiences to the Interplay Between Insecure Attachment Characteristics, Trait Emotional Intelligence, Difficulties in Emotion Regulation, and Personality Organization" (2021). CUNY Academic Works.
https://academicworks.cuny.edu/cc_etds_theses/959