ICPR Abstracts: Session 11

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Session 11: Evening Posters

Attachment in the Family

11.1
Attachment Relationships and Family Style:
A Cultural Perspective

M. Ali Mazaheri-Tehrani and David Jones
Birkbeck College

Patterns of attachment relationship and family style have 
been assessed in a sample of 52 nuclear intact families in 
Iran. Questionnaire data were obtained from both parents.  
A preschool child in each family completed the SAT and 
the Family Drawings Test, and an infant together with the 
mother participated in the Ainsworth's Strange Situation.  
In addition behavioral ratings were obtained for both 
children.  Cultural comparisons suggest variations in the 
scores on individual measures relative to those reported 
for western samples; e.g. proportion of infants in different 
patterns of attachment.  Intrafamilial patterns of 
attachment will also be discussed.

11.2
The Relationship Between Adults' Attachment 
Hierarchies and Their Attachment Patterns

Shanna J. Trinke and Kim Bartholomew
Simon Fraser University

The present study examined the association between 
individuals' attachment patterns and the characteristics of 
their attachment networks (the number and rank ordering 
of their attachment figures).  We used the recently 
developed Attachment Network Questionnaire (ANQ; 
Trinke & Bartholomew, 1995) to measure the multiple 
attachment relationships of 223 university undergraduates. 
Self-reported attachment security with specific figures was 
correlated with ranking those figures more highly overall 
on various attachment components.  Interview attachment 
ratings predicted the number of people listed on the ANQ 
and the number of attachments individuals were judged to 
have.  Differences in the results obtained by the two 
methods of assessing attachment patterns are discussed. 

11.3
Maternal Separation Anxiety: Its Relationship to 
Developmental Separation Experiences, Marital 
Satisfaction, Divorce, and Self- Reported Anxiety

Elisa Velasquez, University of New Orleans
Maria Montero y Lopez Lena, National Autonomous 
University of Mexico
Deborah Mahan, University of New Orleans

Maternal separation anxiety is defined as a transitory state 
of anxiety associated with separation events experiences 
by a mother about leaving her baby (Hock, 1984).  This 
study will investigate the relationship between maternal 
separation anxiety (as measured by Hock's scale, 1984) 
and a mother's history of separation and her separation 
anxiety responses (as measured by Hansburg's Separation 
Anxiety Test, 1980).  The research questions are: Do 
mothers who experience more separations and losses in 
childhood and adolescence express higher levels of 
separation anxiety in general and stronger maternal 
separation anxiety in particular?  Will separation anxiety 
responses from married mothers be different from the 
divorced mothers? Does the quality of the marital 
relationship contribute to the mothers' separation anxiety?
        A total of 80 middle-class mothers of young 
children will be recruited in Mexico City.  Forty of those 
mothers will be married and 40 will be divorced.  All of 
the mothers will participate on a voluntary basis and 
questionnaires will only be identified by an ID number, 
making all responses anonymous.
        Results from this study can support the 
hypothesis that significant early separation experiences 
influence separation anxiety feelings that a mother reports 
in response to separation situations in general, and to the 
prospect of leaving her child specifically.  The 
contribution that a supportive husband has on the mother's 
feelings of separation anxiety will also be addressed.

11.4
Parent-Child Attachment Dimensions
 in Middle Childhood

Kathryn A. Kerns, Patricia L. Tomich,
Jeffrey E. Aspelmeier and Chandra M. Graybill
Kent State University

There has been very little work on attachment in middle 
childhood, despite the fact that children cite parents as the 
primary providers of social and emotional support during 
this age period. Two measures of parent-child attachment 
were evaluated: the Security Scale, which assesses 
attachment on a security-insecurity dimension, and the 
Attachment Strategies Questionnaire, which assesses 
Avoidant and Preoccupied coping with a particular 
attachment figure.  Third and sixth grade children reported 
their relationships with mothers and fathers.  Evidence of 
convergent validity was obtained.  There were also age 
differences for some of the attachment dimensions.

11.5
Mothers' Perceptions of Childbirth and the Mother-
Infant Relationship: Relations With Internal Working 
Models of Attachment

Leah Sweeden, Nancy Hazen, and Deborah Jacobvitz
University of Texas

The primary purpose of this study is to examine the links 
between mothers' working models of attachment, their 
perceptions of childbirth, and their subsequent caregiving 
patterns.  120 first- time mothers participated in the study.  
Mothers' working models of attachment were assessed 
using the Adult Attachment Interview. Postnatally, their 
perceptions of their childbirth experiences were assessed 
using a telephone interview, and their caregiving quality 
was assessed using videotaped observations of their 
interactions with their 8-month-olds in play, feeding, and 
dressing.  Results indicated that secure versus insecure 
attachment interacted with mothers' perception of their 
childbirth experiences to predict quality of caregiving. 
Specifically, for insecure mothers, perception of a difficult 
childbirth experience was related to less accepting and 
sensitive interaction with their infants, whereas secure 
mothers were more accepting and sensitive in relation to 
the perceived difficulty of their childbirth.  In addition, 
mothers who reported unresolved loss of attachment 
figures or childhood abuse or trauma were more likely 
than other mothers to report that they received less support 
during childbirth, and to report post-partum depression;  
and reported post-partum depression was related to poorer 
quality of care.  Thus, the results of this study suggest that 
a difficult childbirth experience may be a risk factor for 
insecure mothers, hampering their ability to provide 
sensitive care. 

Relation Between Attachment Styles and Other 
Individual Difference Variables

11.6
Sex, Gender Roles, and Attachment Patterns 
in Young Adults

Shawnda Servello and Kim Bartholomew
Simon Fraser University

Some adult attachment research has found relatively more 
preoccupied women and dismissing men; similarly, studies 
of gender roles have found relatively more feminine 
women and masculine men. Additionally, both 
preoccupied and feminine women and dismissing and 
masculine men report low satisfaction in their romantic 
relationships.  Building on these parallels, the present 
study examined whether sex differences in attachment 
patterns could be explained by sex differences in gender 
roles.  Using a college sample, the expected sex 
differences in attachment and gender roles were 
confirmed.  The hypotheses were supported for women but 
not men.  These findings substantiate the link between 
gender roles and attachment patterns, but suggest that 
other factors will be important in explaining sex 
differences in adult attachment. 

11.7
The Relationship of Gender and Developmental Stage
To Adult Attachment Styles: A Twin Study

Mariana Brussoni, Tannis M. MacBeth,
Kerry L. Jang, Megan Clark, W. John Livesley
University of British Columbia

A minimum of 207 twin pairs (approximately 50% 
monozygotic) aged 16 to 67 years completed the 
Relationship Questionnaire (RQ) and the Relationship 
Scales Questionnaire (RSQ).  Data analyses explore both 
gender differences and developmental trends, focusing on 
the following questions.  If gender differences are found, 
are they related more strongly to genetic or environmental 
factors?  If no gender differences are found, is the 
similarity predominantly genetic or environmental?  Do 
genetic factors and shared and non- shared environmental 
factors relate similarly or differently to adult attachment 
styles at different points in development?

11.8
Affect Regulation Through Sensation Seeking 
Behavior: An Adult Attachment Perspective

Katherine B. Carnelley,
 University of Wales College of Cardiff
Janet B. Ruscher, Tulane University
Kate H. Roberts,
 University of Wales College of Cardiff

The attachment and exploratory systems are 
complimentary such that a secure base enables one to 
explore the environment.  An adult manifestation of 
exploration might be sensation seeking.  Previous research 
indicates that avoidant infants and adults tend to explore 
rather than pursue intimacy.  Thus avoidance, but not 
preoccupation, should be associated with engagement in 
sensation seeking.  The present study confirmed this 
prediction and addressed whether sensation seeking served 
an affect regulatory function. Consistent with predictions 
about affect regulation, avoidant respondents generally 
indicated that sensation seeking would produce positive 
outcomes.  In addition, preoccupied respondents expected 
positive affect when sensation seeking potentially 
enhanced intimacy. 

11.9
Attachment Styles and Relationship Orientations

Erik Jacobson and Margaret S. Clark
Carnegie Mellon University

Adopting a Communal Orientation involves responding to 
the other's needs and expecting the other to respond to 
one's own needs.  It requires trusting others and valuing 
oneself.  We predicted (and found) Communal Orientation 
to be positively related to Secure attachment, unrelated 
Anxious/Ambivalent attachment and negatively related to 
Avoidant attachment.  Adopting an Exchange Orientation 
involves benefiting the other in response to benefits 
received or expected from the other. It requires neither 
little trust in others nor assumptions of one's own value.  
We predicted (and found) Exchange Orientation to be 
positively related to having an Anxious/Ambivalent or 
Avoidant attachment style and unrelated to having a 
Secure attachment style. 

11.10
Secure and Insecure Thinking:
The Relationship of Cognitive Complexity to 
Attachment Style

Harry Weger Jr. and Leah E. Polcar
University of Arizona

The purpose of this investigation is to uncover cognitive 
processes underlying adult attachment style.  While 
several studies have examined the relationship of adult 
attachment to communication and relational outcomes, 
little work has been undertaken to uncover the mental 
processes underlying attachment style.  The position of 
this paper is that one dimension underlying adult 
attachment is cognitive complexity.  A pilot study found 
that measures of secure and insecure attachment are 
positively related to cognitive complexity. This paper is an 
extension of that study and includes measures of 
interpersonal complexity, relational complexity, 
comforting behavior, and continuous as well as categorical 
measures of attachment. 

11.11
Personality Characteristics of 
Prototypic Attachment Categories

Elaine Scharfe
Simon Fraser University

In this paper, I examined the perceived personality traits 
associated with Bartholomew's four category model of 
adult attachment.  I asked participants to either generate 
personality traits or rate the magnitude of personality traits 
for each of the four prototypes.  Preliminary results 
suggest that perceptions of personality associated with 
each attachment category are consistent with findings 
indicating an association between individual differences in 
attachment and personality (e.g., Brennan & Shaver, 
1993).  Results suggest that internal working models are 
not simply an internal representation that guide 
interpretation, but may also include expectations of 
behaviour from different types of people. 

11.12
Attachment and Emotional Intelligence

Youngmee Kim
University of Rochester

The relationship between attachment styles and emotional 
intelligence was tested.  Two models of attachment styles 
(e.g., three- or four-category models) were compared and 
revealed that secure people were more attentive to their 
emotions, and recovered positive mood more than insecure 
people.  Women were found to be more attentive to their 
emotions than men, and secure women recovered positive 
mood more than secure men.  Implications for gender 
differences in emotional intelligence and attachment are 
discussed. 

Relation Between Negative Life Experiences 
and Attachment

11.13
The Relationship Between Adult Attachment Style and 
Physical Aggression  and Psychological Abuse in 
Heterosexual Dating Relationships

Joanne M. Shovlin, 
Virginia Consortium for Professional Psychology
Barbara A. Winstead and Robin J. Lewis, 
Old Dominion University

The study investigated attachment style (as conceptualized 
by Bartholomew) in a current relationship and physical 
and emotional abuse.  Attachment style did not predict 
physical or verbal aggression.  Women were more likely 
than men to report being physically aggressive toward 
their partners.  Attachment style was related to other 
relationship measures.  Individuals with Anxious 
attachment reported more emotional abuse and 
possessiveness. Avoidant individuals reported higher 
levels of perceived risk in intimacy.  Relationship quality 
was higher for Secures than for any other groups. Length 
of relationship was positively related to verbal aggression 
and emotional abuse.  The results suggest that attachment 
in relationships is a better predictor of psychological 
qualities of relationships than aggressive incidents in 
relationships. 

11.14
How Do Women Leave? The Reciprocal Relationship
Between Abuse and Attachment Security

Antonia J. Z. Henderson
Simon Fraser University

The question of why women stay with, and return to, 
partners who abuse them continues to be an enigma to 
clinicians and researchers. Following up on earlier work 
examining the attachment patterns of women having 
recently left an abusive partner, I interviewed a select 
subsample in order to better understand the process of 
separation from a long term abusive relationship.  Core 
themes from interviews suggest that women+s ability to 
remain out of abusive relationships may be mediated by 
attachment security, and that attachment security may be 
mediated by experiences of abuse.  This exploratory 
analysis suggests that future research should look at the 
reciprocal dynamic between abuse and internal 
representations of self and other. 

11.15
The Relationship Between Traumatic Childhood 
Experiences and Adult Attachment Styles

Megan D. Clark, Tannis M MacBeth,
 Kerry L. Jang, Mariana Brussoni, 
 and W. John Livesley, University of British Columbia

Previous research indicated that negative childhood 
experiences are associated with higher rates of insecure 
adult attachment (Brennan, Shaver, & Tobey, 1991; 
Alexander, 1993).  This study focuses on the relationship 
between childhood traumatic experiences and adult 
attachment. Adult Twins (207 pairs) completed 
Bartholomew's self- report attachment measures, the 
Relationship Questionnaire (RQ) and The Relationship 
Scales Questionnaire (RSQ) (Griffin & Bartholomew, 
1994), an Events Questionnaire measuring retrospective 
reports of traumatic events, and the symptoms check list 
(SCL-90-R). We will examine the associations among 
reported childhood traumatic events, adult attachment, and 
symptoms experienced.  The twin data will allow us to 
explore the relative contributions of genetics and 
environment.

11.16
Attachment Representations, Childhood Rejection, 
and Loneliness

Rebecca Cobb and Kim Bartholomew
Simon Fraser University

We examined the relative contributions of childhood 
experiences and current attachment representations to 
adult loneliness. Results indicated that the relationship 
between parental rejection in childhood and current 
loneliness is mediated by current attachment patterns. 
However, peer rejection in childhood predicts loneliness in 
adulthood, independently of current attachment. We 
speculate that  attachment insecurity contributes to 
emotional loneliness, while peer  rejection influences 
social loneliness. These results highlight the  importance 
of both childhood parental and peer relationships as 
antecedents of adult loneliness. 

11.17
The Influence of Working Models of Attachment and 
Feelings of Stigma on Adjustment to Illness

Wartini Pramana and Judith Feeney
The University of Queensland

The present study examined the role of working models of 
attachment and feelings of stigma in predicting adjustment 
to illness (illness behaviours and coping effectiveness) in 
asthma sufferers.  Supporting the proposed model, 
negative models of self emerged as a significant predictor 
of feelings of stigma.  Positive models of others directly 
predicted higher levels of  social illness behaviours and 
fewer disability days.  Furthermore,  coping effectiveness, 
health care utilisation, social and work  illness behaviours 
were predicted indirectly (though weakly) by  working 
models of self, mediated by feelings of stigma.  However,  
the number of days of experiencing asthma symptoms 
were not  predicted by any of the independent variables.  

11.18
Attachment, Grief and Coping: 
An Integrated Model of Parental Bereavement

Vincent J. Conway
 University of Queensland

A model of parental bereavement was developed, 
integrating theories of  attachment, grief and coping. To 
test this model, 45 subjects who had  experienced the 
death of a child completed questionnaire measures of  
relevant variables. Attachment style was measured using a 
multiple-item  questionnaire yielding scores on five scales, 
including Anxiety about  relationships and Discomfort 
with closeness. Coping strategies were  assessed using a 
modified version of the Ways of Coping Checklist  
(Folkman & Lazarus, 1980), and multiple dimensions of 
grief were measured  using a questionnaire based on 
attachment theory (Jacobs, Kosten, Kasl, Ostfeld, 
Berkman & Charpentier, 1987-88). Attachment style 
mediated the  effects of grief and coping on current anxiety 
and depression, which were  both positively associated 
with Anxiety about relationships. The  association 
between Discomfort with closeness and current anxiety 
was  marginally significant.

11.19
Adolescent Romantic Relationship Loss
 and Adult Attachment

Aine M. Humble, Mount Saint Vincent University
Berna J. Skrypnek, University of Alberta

To investigate the relationship between adolescent 
relationship experiences and adult attachment styles, 386 
young adults completed measures of adolescent and adult 
attachment (dismissing, preoccupied, fearful, and secure), 
emotional distress, and relationship history.  A strong 
relationship was found between adolescent attachment 
styles and (1) levels of emotional distress following 
adolescent romantic relationship breakup, and (2) 
perceptions of who ended the meaningful adolescent 
relationship. We also found a relationship between levels 
of emotional distress over adolescent relationship breakup 
and current attachment styles. Implications of adolescent 
relationship experiences (particularly relationship loss) in 
contributing to secure versus insecure attachment styles in 
adults are discussed. 

11.20
Unrequited Love: Everything Ventured, 
Nothing Gained?

Briony K. Hollick and C.A. Elizabeth Brimacombe
University of Victoria

We investigated the relationship between attachment 
styles and unrequited love experiences.  A preliminary 
study involving 180 participants found that, after recalling 
an unrequited love experience, rejectors and would-be 
lovers felt differently about a number of dimensions, such 
as guilt and self-esteem.  The experience was generally 
more negative for rejectors than would-be lovers.  In 
addition, the secure, avoidant, and anxious/ambivalent 
attachment styles experienced unrequited love in different 
ways. "Secure" individuals reported fewer negative 
feelings than either "avoidant" or "anxious/ambivalent" 
individuals.  In a follow-up investigation, these factors, as 
well as age and gender differences, are explored.

Friendship -- Conflict and Dissolution

11.21
Letting Others Out of Hot Water: 
Forgiveness in Social Predicaments

Holley S. Hodgins and Elizabeth A. Liebeskind
Skidmore College

Subjects imagined themselves victims after face-
threatening predicaments, received accounts, and wrote 
responses.  Type of account (refusals, excuses, and 
concessions), closeness and status were manipulated.  
Responses were coded and subjects predicted future 
relationships.  Findings showed that higher responsibility 
resulted in more positive and fewer negative comments, a 
more positive overall tone, and better future outcome.  
Effects were especially pronounced for friends.  Results 
suggest that friends are forgiven more than acquaintances 
when they take responsibility but are forgiven less if they 
fail to apologize.  

11.22
Competition in a Structured Play Situation in Relation 
to the Continuation of Children's Friendships

Franca Tani, Barry Schneider, Ada Fonzi, 
and Giovanna Tomada, University of Pisa

Our study was undertaken in order to determine whether 
children's behavior in a structured competitive game 
situation would predict their concurrent friendship status 
as well as the continuation of their friendship.  This 
hypothesis was tested using a car-race task developed for 
this research program with eight-year olds.  Friends were 
more likely to engage in conflict while respecting the 
rules, whereas non-friends were more likely to avoid 
conflict in ways that violated the rules.  As well, the affect 
displayed by friends while playing was significantly more 
likely to be positive.  In contrast, there was scant support 
for our hypothesis that those qualities would be associated 
with the continuation of friendship.

11.23
Children's Negotiation Behavior
as a Predictor of the Continuation of Their Friendships

Ada Fonzi, Giovanna Tomada, Barry Schneider and 
Franca Tani, University of Florence

We hypothesized that friends would be more adept in their 
negotiations than non-friends regarding the sharing of an 
object and that this ability would predict the continuation 
of their friendship.  Friendship nomination procedures and 
sociometric choice nominations were administered to 400 
Grade 3 pupils of sexes.  We asked the subjects to decide 
how they would share a single Kinder-Surprise (a 
chocolate egg with a toy inside).  There were some 
indications that the ability to negotiate the sharing of an 
object emerged as a salient predictor of the continuation of 
children's friendships.  Youngsters whose friendships were 
to continue tended to negotiate rather than to accept their 
partners' initial proposal, but to be more sensitive and 
creative in their later propositions.

Violence and Abuse in Close Relationships

11.24
On-line Thoughts About Marital Interaction Within 
Distressed, Nondistressed and Aggressive Couples

Timothy Dun and Alan Sillars, University of Montana 
Linda Roberts, University of Wisconsin
Kenneth Leonard, Research Institute on Addictions, 
Buffalo, New York

The present study compares the thoughts and feelings of 
physically aggressive and nonaggressive spouses during a 
discussion of marital conflicts.  150 couples engaged in a 
naturalistic conflict discussion and individually reported 
thoughts and feelings while viewing videotapes of the 
discussion.  Additionally, husbands received alcohol, a 
placebo, or no alcohol before engaging in the discussion.  
Three features of the video-assisted recall data are given 
particularly attention in this analysis:  (a) reports of 
emotional experience, especially the frequency of angry 
emotions and spontaneous explanations for anger; (b) 
relative attention to content versus process issues in the 
discussions; and (c) the complexity of inferences about the 
partner's perspective.

11.25
What's Love Got To Do With It: 
Assessing Dysfunctional Love Beliefs 
in Domestically Violent Men

Erin Hardin, Carl A. Ridley,
Hobart H. Cleveland and Clyde M. Feldman
The University of Arizona

The purpose of this study was to examine the role of 
dysfunctional love beliefs in domestically violent behavior.  
Data were collected from 115 Korean men currently in 
significant heterosexual relationships between the ages of 
20-35.  Hierarchical discriminant analyses were used.  
Analyses indicate that a significant relationship exists 
between dysfunctional love beliefs and the levels of abuse, 
discriminating physically abusive, psychologically abusive, 
and nonabusive men.  Subscales of "jealousy" and 
"overdependency" as indicators of love were also found to 
be significant discriminators between the three levels of 
abusive men. Relationship specific love beliefs were found 
to be a better predictor of domestic violence than general 
love beliefs.

11.26
Relational Qualities and Beliefs Among 
Abusive Men in Korea

Carl A. Ridley, Erin Hardin,
Hobart H. Cleveland, and Clyde M. Feldman
The University of Arizona

The purpose of this study was to distinguish Korean men 
involved in different levels and intensities of abusive 
relationships according to relational characteristics 
including relational power, relational closeness, relational 
satisfaction, dysfunctional relationship beliefs, 
interpersonal self-perception, and relationship acceptance.  
A total of 115 Korean men in significant heterosexual 
relationships between the ages of 20-35 were selected for 
participation.  Analyses indicate that relational power 
imbalances, as well as attitudes about relational power, 
were the most significant factors in distinguishing men in 
different groups. Discussion provides possible 
explanations for the centrality of power in domestic 
violence.

11.27
The Association Between the Abusive Personality
and Gay Male Intimate Abuse

Monica A. Landolt and Donald G. Dutton
University of British Columbia

Past research has implicated the Abusive Personality as a 
key factor in heterosexual domestic violence (Dutton & 
Starzomski, 1993; Dutton, 1994).  In the present study, 52 
gay male couples completed questionnaires including two 
measures of abuse and four measures which together 
constitute the Abusive Personality. Results indicate that 
intimate abuse and the Abusive Personality were clearly 
associated, suggesting that this explanatory model of abuse 
developed in heterosexual relationships does have 
relevance in the gay male case and should be used as a 
starting point for further investigations.

11.28
Characteristics of Urban Domestic Violence Survivors:
Implications for Program Planning

Andrea J. Martin, Melissa M. Lin 
 Urban Women's Retreat, New York
Robert E. Sage, Urban Resource Institute, Brooklyn
Lorraine Madry, Urban Women's Retreat, New York
and Beny J. Primm 
Urban Resource Institute, Brooklyn


Women living in an urban domestic violence shelter (N = 
80) were interviewed to assess their background 
characteristics and to offer recommendations for program 
planning.  Residents interviewed were largely African-
American (43.8%) or Latina (47.5%) women with 
children.  The majority of residents suffered long term 
abuse and 30% of them attempted suicide at least one time 
in their lives. High levels of alcohol and drug usage were 
reported for the batterers and in the women's families and 
the batterers' families. Despite increasing awareness of 
domestic violence, younger residents suffered from more 
depression and were more likely to attempt suicide.

11.29
Relating Control, Self-esteem, Psychological and 
Physical Health Symptoms
in Physically Revictimized Individuals

Jocelyn B. Proulx
University of Manitoba

The purpose of this study was to examine the relationship 
between anxiety and general health and control and self-
esteem in individuals physically abused in childhood and 
revictimized in physically violent dating relationships and 
non-victimized individuals.  Analysis of variance revealed 
that revictimized individuals reported more anxiety, 
somatization and general health symptoms, and lower self-
esteem and more external locus of control than 
nonvictimized individuals.  Further, locus of control and 
self-esteem were more predictive of distress symptoms in 
the revictimized group, possibly identifying them as 
mediators of distress and variables worthy of research and 
therapeutic consideration.

11.30
The Prediction of Sexually Coercive Behaviors Among 
Korean Males

Hobart H. Cleveland, Erin Hardin,
Carl Ridley and Clyde M. Feldman
University of Arizona

The purpose of this study was to explore the prediction of 
sexually coercive behaviors in a data set of Korean men 
collected to address the related issue of domestic abuse.  
Predictors from both the individual level, (self-concept) 
and relational level (relationship satisfaction and 
relationship behaviors) were examined.  A total of 115 
Korean men in significant heterosexual relationships 
between the ages of 20-35 were selected for participation.  
Analyses indicate that by selected predictors from both the 
individual level and the relational level fifty percent of the 
variance in sexually coercive behaviors can be explained.  
Of particular interest is the significance of the interaction 
between self-concept, an individual level variable, and 
abusive psychological behaviors within the relationship, a 
relational variable.

11.31
All in the Family:
A Longitudinal Study of Incestuous Relationships

Catherine Cameron
University of La Verne

A longitudinal study of 72 female therapy clients yielded 
information about incestuous parent-child relationships.  
The women's conscious memory of sexual abuse and 
ranged from (prior) amnesia to continuous recall.  Data 
were gathered on their family of origin, their abuse, 
consequences over time, memories faced in adulthood, the 
therapeutic experience, and personal changes during the 
decade of research (1986-1995).  Results showed that 
women who had (formerly) been amnesic to sexual abuse 
were significantly more likely to have experienced parent-
child incest, severe sexual abuse, and crisis on recall.  
Serious personal, family, and societal implications of these 
findings are proposed.