Citation

Renn P. Attach. Hum. Dev. 2002; 4(3): 294-317.

Affiliation

London Probation Service, Leeland House, Leeland Road, West Ealing, London W13 9HH, UK.

Copyright

(Copyright © 2002, Informa - Taylor and Francis Group)

DOI

10.1080/14616730210167203

PMID

12537848

Abstract

This case-study identifies the links between an insecure-avoidant pattern of attachment organization, unresolved childhood trauma, emotional detachment, substance misuse and violent offending behaviour in adulthood. It demonstrates the way in which attachment theory may be used to explicate offending behaviour and to assess risk in a forensic setting. Further, the model illustrates that the clinical application of attachment theory in brief, time-limited work may enhance the offender's capacity for narrative intelligibility leading to an integration of dissociated thoughts and emotional affect, and to a concomitant cessation of violent behaviour. The process is intersubjective and involves the modification and updating of maladaptive, perceptually distorted cognitive-affective internal working models. This is accomplished by strengthening the offender's capacity for reflective thought, which, in turn, facilitates the organization and integration of error-correcting information.

Language: en