The Associations Between the Maladaptive Personality Dimensions of Neediness and Self-Criticism, Defense Styles, Selfobject Needs, and Attachment Styles in an Iranian Sample

The present study extends previous findings by examining whether defense styles, selfobject needs, attachment styles relate to Neediness and Self-Criticism, as maladaptive personality dimensions focused, respectively, on relatedness and self-definition in an Iranian sample. Three hundred and fifty two participants completed a socio-demographic questionnaire as well as the Persian forms of the Depressive Experiences Questionnaire, Experience of Close Relationships-Revised, Defense Style Questionnaire, Beck Depression Inventory–II and Selfobject Needs Inventory. Two Multiple Linear Regression Analyses, entering Self-criticism and Neediness as criterion variables, were computed. According to the results high Attachment anxiety, high Immature defenses, high depressive symptoms, and high need for idealization were related to self-criticism, and explained 47% of its variance. In addition, high attachment anxiety, low mature defenses, high neurotic defenses, high avoidance of mirroring, and low avoidance of idealization/twinship were related to neediness, and explained 40% of its variance. A Principal Component Analysis was performed, entering all the studied variables. Three factors emerged; one describing a maladaptive form of psychological functioning and two describing more mature modes of psychological functioning. The results are discussed in their implications for the understanding of neediness and self-criticism as maladaptive personality dimensions focused, respectively, on relatedness and self-definition.

Estilos pessoais dos terapeutas e estilos de vinculação

Neste estudo, procurou-se estudar a relação entre estilos pessoais e estilos de vinculação na relação terapêutica, procurando também, identificar outros aspetos que influenciam quer os estilos pessoais quer os estilos de vinculação duma amostra de psicoterapeutas. Esta amostra foi constituída por 40 licenciados em Psicologia Clínica, de ambos os sexos, com diferentes anos de experiência profissional. Os instrumentos utilizados foram o Questionário do Estilo pessoal (EPT) e a Escala de Vinculação de Adultos (EVA). Os resultados apontaram para uma associação entre a função instrutiva do EPT e o estilo de vinculação (terapeutas rígidos apresentam um estilo de vinculação ambivalente, enquanto que os terapeutas flexíveis apresentam um estilo de vinculação seguro), e entre algumas das funções do EPT com a orientação teórica, o grupo etário dos clientes e o género dos terapeutas. Conclui-se que a forma como os terapeutas estabelecem e regulam as suas sessões, está associada ao estilo de vinculação. ABSTRACT: ln this study, the priority goal was to identify which type of relationship exist between personnel styles and attachment styles in the therapeutic relationship; still point a characterization and a recognition of what aspects that can influence it, and then analyse it. The sample were constituted by 40 psychotherapists, they have a licenciature degree in clinical psychology, and the years of professional experience or the duration that they have the degree don't matter. The questionnaire EPT-C and the Adult attachment Scale-R (AAS-R). The results point to the association between the instructive function and attachment styles, as to the EPT-C functions with theoric orientation, age groups of clients, and therapists genres. The therapists that are rigids show a ambivalent style; but therapists flexible shows a secure style of attachment. lndeed the way as therapists stablish and regulate their sessions, is associated to the attachment style.