Adult attachment theory and its contribution to an understanding of conflict and abuse in later‐life relationships
| Pages | 40-49 |
| Date | 01 September 2000 |
| Published date | 01 September 2000 |
| DOI | https://doi.org/10.1108/14668203200000022 |
| Author | David Shemmings |
| Subject Matter | Health & social care,Sociology |
Research overview
abstract
40 © Pavilion Publishing (Brighton) Limited The Journal of Adult Protection Volume 2 Issue 3 • September 2000
Introduction
As a psychosocial approach to human relationships, adult
attachment theory constructs the self as socially embedded
such that ‘the self and personality form as the developing
mind engages with and tries to make sense of the world in
which it finds itself’ (Howe, 1997). By stressing the socialness
of self throughout the lifespan the focus of this article is on
how close relationships can be ‘for better or for worse’ in later
life. In this discussion, a ‘close’ relationship is not necessarily
the same as a ‘rewarding’ or ‘satisfying’ relationship; indeed,
this discrepancy can constitute one of the reasons why a
person may behave with their relative, partner or friend in
ways they would not contemplate with someone less close.
Much of the research into both intergenerational and
spousal relationships in later life has focused on their more
functional aspects, such as caregiving (Stein et al., 1998),
obligation (Cicirelli, 1993) and duty (Crawford et al., 1994).
An exception is Finch and Mason’s seminal research in 1993
on the negotiation of family responsibilities. It contains
important messages about the crucial role close relationships
play in later life. One of their main findings stressed that
‘responsibilities are created commitments rather than rules of
obligation’ (Finch & Mason, 1993) and it identifies clearly the
powerful way in which ‘roles are created, rather than flowing
automatically from specific relationships’. Indeed ‘it is not
possible to predict simply from knowing the genealogical
relationships, what kind of support is likely to be given to any
individual’. Although older people indicated their preference
for ‘intimacy at a distance’, a phrase which reverberates with
Adult attachment theory
and its contribution to an
understanding of conflict and
abuse in later-life relationships David Shemmings
University of East Anglia, Norwich
key words
adult attachment theory
relationships
elder abuse
This article considers some of
the implications of research findings
into relational conflict and couple
violence and suggests links with
elder abuse.An outline of a research
design to study elder abuse from an
attachment perspective is discussed.
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