Depressiogenic cognition and insecure attachment: a motivational hypothesis

A number of studies suggest that dysfunctional and depressiogenic cognitive styles have their origin in insecure attachment relationships between child and caregiver and may be further consolidated in unsupportive adult relationships. A cross-sectional study was conducted to identify potential associations among preoccupied and fearful attachment styles, recollections of parental caregiving, and three types of dysfunctional cognition. The findings confirmed the hypotheses that preoccupied and fearful attachment in adult relationships, as well as problematic caregiving in childhood, were associated with depressiogenic and other dysfunctional cognition, most notably generalisation. A motivational hypothesis of cognitive dysfunction is discussed: generalisation may constitute a sub-optimal mechanism of achieving stability in a precarious attachment representation at the cost of increasing vulnerability to depression.