.png)
Many of us have heard the words ‘attachment style’ on Instagram or TikTok, but do we know what it means? An attachment style is defined as a specific style of behaviour a person displays in and around a relationship, and can be: secure, anxious, avoidant, or disorganised. In this article, researchers explore the neurobiology of disorganised attachment (DA), based on prior psychological studies on humans. DA is associated with personality, eating, mood, and addictive disorders. Some symptoms of DA include an inability to open up about one’s feelings, becoming combative when faced with a slight sense of rejection, and a fear of abandonment. These disorders are largely caused by traumatic experiences that can occur as early as babyhood. Early signs of childhood trauma can result in a disorganised attachment style, and this results in dysfunctional family relationships and friendships. Children with DA may act out in a rebellious manner, get upset easily, or start fights, as they may have been exposed to such behaviour when they were young.
The researchers included 8 genetic studies to investigate the neurobiological causes of DA. They also conducted one epigenetic study, which studies how one’s behaviour and surroundings can change the way their genes work. They found that the presence of two alleles, or two forms, of the gene DRD4 causes a significant increase in DA. These two forms are DRD4-7R (R = number of repetitions of the gene), and DRD4-4R. Children without a DRD4-7R allele had fewer symptoms of DA. It was also found that parents who were negligent towards their child, or who had postpartum (post-childbirth) depression, had children with higher levels of DA as the parent-child bond did not form properly.
The scientists also included studies about hormone levels and brain function. One psychological study found that people who had high levels of cortisol (the body’s main stress hormone) while being pregnant had children with lower cognitive abilities. This is because cortisol is present in amniotic fluid, a watery substance containing nutrients and hormones that cushions the foetus while it is in the womb, so the cortisol is absorbed by the foetus. A neurological study showed that adults with DA, compared to adults without it, had lower brain function in areas that controlled humans’ emotional functioning. Similarly, a study conducted with people from the age of 18 months to 21 years old, showed that the adults who had DA at an early age were slower in producing positive emotions.
The study had some limitations – one being that it primarily relied on secondary data collected by psychologists and neurologists. This is because the biology behind disorganised attachment has not been studied in-depth before, which meant that the researchers had to analyse previously conducted studies and try to observe patterns. As a result, these findings cannot be used in a clinical context, because there aren’t enough studies on the topic. However, it still provides a fascinating insight into how humans form relationships, and how we love.
Comments