How Early Negative Caregiving Experiences Relate to Stage of Attachment

Stage We estimate about 20% of adults are at this stage in their attachment relationships. They will know the social norms and these norms will be important in regulating what happens in their relationships. When the identification is with socially appropriate groups and norms, this can lead to a lot of socially accepted, although perhaps rigid behaviors. When impaired, individuals behaving at the abstract stage may belong to the “out group” and therefore act against the norms of the “in group.” This may occur because an important model in the person’s life has had a strong “identification” with anti-social norms. It may be due to being maltreated. Some may be in the negative step of the transition from abstract to formal – the anti norms. During stage transition (Commons & Richards, 2002) the first step of leaving the earlier stage adaptation is to negate the actions of that stage. People who are performing at this step of the transition may go against the social norms, though this is also expected in at least some adolescents. It is when this kind of thinking persists beyond adolescence that there can be a problem. For example, individuals who belong to an “out group” can engage in a great deal of negative behavior directed against others in society. This can harm both themselves and others. Others not in their group will get pejorative names and this is seen as justifying being able to treat them badly. Vol. 13, Spring 2007, Behavioral Development Bulletin