The Role of Therapeutic Alliance and Emotional Expressiveness on the Association Between Attachment Style and Treatment Outcomes
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2017
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Haverford College. Department of Psychology
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Thesis
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Award
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eng
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Open Access
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Abstract
Cognitive-behavioral therapy (CBT) is a common treatment for social anxiety disorder, a prevalent anxiety disorder characterized by a persistent fear and avoidance of social situations (Heimberg, 2002). Although most patients emerge from CBT treatment with reduced anxiety and better functioning, not all individuals experience clinically significant improvement. Due to the interpersonal nature of this disorder, it may be useful to examine this problem through the lens of attachment theory. The present study will examine how individual differences in attachment security predict treatment outcomes in a clinical sample of individuals being treated for social anxiety disorder. It will also investigate the role of the therapeutic alliance, or bond a patient forms with their therapist, as a potential mechanism for the relationship between attachment and treatment outcomes. Finally, emotion regulation strategies are intricately tied to one’s attachment style and to the formation of close relationships. Thus, the present study will examine whether emotional expressiveness moderates the relationship between attachment style and therapeutic alliance. Implications will be discussed.