How Cults Work 6 - Forms Of Attachment

This is the sixth post in a series dedicated to the book Terror, Love and Brainwashing by Alexandra Stein.

In this post we can examine how attachment works in attachment theory.

Stein wrote "How does this attachment system operate ? Like the fuzzy gosling, children turn to a familiar figure - usually their mothers (or other caregivers) - when they are stressed, frightened, hungry, tired or in pain. When all works well, and the parent is open, flexible and responsive to the child, secure attachment results. When the child experiences threat or stress their attachment system is activated and through an array of attachment behaviors (such as crying, smiling, reaching out to be held) they seek out their attachment figure, who, ideally, will provide appropriate comfort and protection. The child's need for protection and their attachment behaviors trigger the parent's caregiving system. (Most of us have experiences of how this caregiving system operates - think of how difficult it is to ignore the persistent cry of a baby.)
     When the threat passes, and the child has been comforted and attains a state of "felt security," their attachment system is deactivated and the child is free to explore and move away from the attachment figure - but close enough to return in case of further threat. And the secure parent allows this exploration, letting the child return when needed. Imagine a young child running off to play, but turning from time to time to check that their parent is still there - with this reassurance they can relax and continue to play. The child now uses the parent or attachment figure as a secure base from which to explore their world. The link between parent and child is like an elastic band, contracting and expanding in response to the child's needs and to conditions in the environment. " "About 58 percent of low-risk populations are securely attached. Secure attachment is predictive of protective factors in life such as resilience, protectiveness of others, altruism, and empathy.
    Bowlby saw this as a homeostatic control system with  proximity-seeking behaviors. Attachment behaviors, according to Bowlby, need to be "terminated" effectively, through adequate and reliable comfort in order for for the exploratory phase to take place. In other words, the child (or adult) must achieve a sufficient level of comfort to calm his or her fearful response (yet not so much comfort as to become smothering or oppressive). But once the threat has passed and the fear response has been calmed, the need for the caregiver as safe haven also passes and the child is ready to explore his or her environment again. At this point the child's attachment behavior has been terminated effectively through the provision of adequate comfort, and his or her exploratory behavior resumes. " Page 30


Now I want to really zero in on attachment theory for a few reasons. First off it is essential to understanding the hypothesis Stein has regarding cultic relationships. It is right at the heart and foundation of her entire way of looking at cults.

Second, it is important to her ideas regarding how people in cults are controlled and impaired in their thinking and behavior regarding cults. This leads to it being vital for understanding her explanation for how and why some people make progress and are able to effectively recover from cultic relationships and in particular people who were in cults both deeply and for long periods of time. Often people in cults and in particular in Scientology deeply and for long periods or who were raised in Scientology have enormous obstacles to overcome to recover. Some people are far more successful at recovery than others and Stein offers a compelling explanation why that is and how the more successful ex cult members recover while some recover very poorly or not at all.

And finally I want to really nail the ideas from attachment theory because they and the whole attachment model are a new look at the whole subject for me. With lots of other ideas regarding cults I have already written in depth posts on hypnosis, malignant narcissism and traumatic narcissism and thought reform as described by Robert Jay Lifton and Steven Hassan and Margaret Singer and I wrote entire series on cognitive dissonance theory and specific books like Subliminal and Age of Propaganda. Lots of ideas are already covered in earlier posts at length, so anyone interested could look back at them and get background material to consider.

So bear with me as I really tackle attachment theory here. It is well worth serious study and consideration.

We can look at the hypothesis of secure attachment. It involves the child both exploring the world and seeking reassurance the caregiver is ready and able to give attention if needed. Reassurance that they are close and paying attention and willing to come quickly if called is a better situation than the alternatives for a child. The child is much safer if someone can help in case of danger and a caregiver is much more likely to both perceive and handle danger than a child. So behavior that encourages the caregiver to provide secure attachment is very beneficial to the child's survival.


This seems understandable. And the child goes from a state of panic or discomfort when seeking the caregiver to being calmed by the appropriate attention from the caregiver. They are showing their readiness to give comfort and aid which may be life saving for the child and often is. I recall a comedian once saying if ever want to be constantly saving someone's life have a child. I have two children myself and can tell you especially when they are little, say under six years old, saving them from falls, and drowning and cars once they walk is nearly a full time job. In earlier times I am sure predators and starvation and the elements were ever present dangers for small children. So it makes perfect sense why a child goes from panicking and terrified to relieved and relaxed. It literally saves their life routinely to have attentive caregivers.

Stein went on "But caregivers may not always respond adequately, or situations may prevent a child (or adult) getting the care they need, and when such attachment is lacking or impaired Bowlby and his colleagues uncovered predictable consequences on later development. Along with the secure attachment status, Bowlby then described two insecure forms of attachment: preoccupied and dismissing attachment" Page 30-31

"For those who have unreliable, inconsistent attachment figures, where a safe haven is only intermittently available, attachment behavior is not effectively terminated through reliable comfort. As the child is never fully comforted they remain attempting to gain closeness with the attachment figure. The result is clinginess, separation anxiety, and a failure to effectively use the attachment figure as a secure base from which to explore. This is termed preoccupied attachment and is characterized by a hyperactivation of the attachment system, ongoing attachment behaviors and impairments in being able to use the parent as a secure base - in other words, the child's exploratory behaviors are limited. Unsure of the parent's responsiveness, the preoccupied child remains on alert, demanding attention through attachment behaviors and, from time to time, succeeding in getting that attention. The child takes on a disproportionate share of the task of maintaining connection with their caregiver. This type of attachment has been correlated with, for example, later anxiety and hypervigilance, and being victimized by bullying. About 19 percent of non-clinical populations have a preoccupied attachment status. " Page 31-32

 "The other from of insecure attachment occurs when the parent or attachment figure consistently rejects or neglects the child, and the child deactivates their attachment behaviors - resulting in dismissing attachment. Having not experienced positive, caring responses to early attempts to seek attachment, the child eventually gives up and avoids seeking it. This doesn't mean the child can regulate their fear responses on their own, but they do not go to the caregiver to try to get comfort or protection, and they avoid attachments and suppress attachment behaviors even while they experiencing threat or fear internally. Those with dismissing attachment stay detached and unable to depend on others. They do experience physiological arousal when stressed but they are not able seek comfort to attenuate the stressful feelings. This attachment status has been correlated with anger and aggressive behaviors such as bullying. It is estimated that 23 percent of non-clinical populations have dismissing attachment. " Page 32

"Although the preoccupied and dismissing attachment strategies may not be ideal in terms of securing attachment, they are useful responses, or adaptations, to particular attachment situations - the preoccupied may increase the chances of attachment through vigilance and availability, and the dismissing may prevent harm to the self by avoiding rejecting and possibly harmful behaviors on the part of the caregiver. Along with secure attachment these make up the three organized attachments that work as a homeostatic control system, ebbing and flowing within the limits of an environment of adaptedness. That is, these strategies work well enough within situations that, while not all are optimal, are at least predictable, and allow the child to develop a coherent - organized - way of responding to their environment.
   So far, so good. But how does this relate to brainwashing and to Masoud's submission to his leader ? The fourth form of attachment is the one that interests us. The effect of disorganized attachment on both emotions and thinking is dramatic and helps explain how someone as intelligent, curious and thoughtful as Masoud (or, for that matter, Marina, myself, of any of the many people described in this book) could shut his mind "to doubts and questions" about the group he had joined. "Page 32

Okay, this has been a hell of a lot to take on. We have secure attachment as the most desirable form with alternating between exploratory behaviors and comfort seeking then preoccupied attachment with overly seeking comfort and dismissing attachment with actually avoiding comfort to avoid rejection and abuse.

And finally we have the final attachment we may consider - disorganized. That is worth taking on next.