CRC CRC Attachment Theory & Relationship Patterns 2 — Questions and Answers
Question 1: The pursue-withdraw cycle in couples is most often driven by which attachment dynamic?
- Two partners with secure attachment styles in conflict
- An anxious partner pursuing and an avoidant partner withdrawing (Correct answer)
- Two avoidant partners competing for dominance
- A secure partner trying to reach a disorganized partner
Correct answer: An anxious partner pursuing and an avoidant partner withdrawing
The pursue-withdraw cycle typically involves an anxiously attached partner seeking connection and an avoidantly attached partner pulling away, reinforcing each other's fears.
Question 2: A CRC helping a client with an avoidant attachment style would most likely work on:
- Reducing their dependency on their partner
- Increasing tolerance for intimacy and vulnerability (Correct answer)
- Managing jealousy and possessiveness
- Establishing firmer relationship boundaries
Correct answer: Increasing tolerance for intimacy and vulnerability
Avoidant clients need help building tolerance for closeness and learning that vulnerability does not inevitably lead to rejection.
Question 3: The concept of a 'secure base' in adult relationships refers to:
- A stable financial foundation for the couple
- A partner who provides a safe haven that enables exploration and risk-taking (Correct answer)
- The family home as a neutral conflict resolution space
- A shared set of rules and boundaries both partners follow
Correct answer: A partner who provides a safe haven that enables exploration and risk-taking
A secure base, derived from Bowlby's theory, is a partner who provides safety and support from which the other can explore and take risks.
Question 4: Attachment theory suggests that 'earned security' refers to:
- Security that comes only from a perfectly consistent childhood
- Developing a secure attachment style through later corrective experiences despite an insecure childhood (Correct answer)
- Financial security that reduces relationship stress
- Trust earned gradually through consistent partner behavior
Correct answer: Developing a secure attachment style through later corrective experiences despite an insecure childhood
Earned security describes individuals who developed secure attachment despite early insecure experiences, often through therapy, coaching, or a healing relationship.
Question 5: Which attachment behavior is most commonly observed in anxiously attached adults during conflict?
- Stonewalling and emotional withdrawal
- Hyperactivating strategies such as heightening distress and protest (Correct answer)
- Logical, calm discussion of the issue
- Immediate forgiveness and de-escalation
Correct answer: Hyperactivating strategies such as heightening distress and protest
Anxious attachment involves hyperactivating strategies — amplifying emotional distress and protest to compel an avoidant partner to respond.
Question 6: The 'Still Face' experiment by Edward Tronick demonstrated that:
- Infants prefer unfamiliar faces to familiar ones
- Even brief disruptions in caregiver responsiveness cause infant distress, highlighting the importance of attunement (Correct answer)
- Fathers are more important attachment figures than mothers
- Toddlers lose attachment behavior after age 2
Correct answer: Even brief disruptions in caregiver responsiveness cause infant distress, highlighting the importance of attunement
The Still Face experiment showed infants become distressed when caregivers become unresponsive, demonstrating the profound impact of attunement on emotional development.
CRC CRC Attachment Theory & Relationship Patterns 2
The pursue-withdraw cycle in couples is most often driven by which attachment dynamic?