Attachment pattern and cognitive skills: an exploratory study in an Italian non-clinical sample

Bowlby (1973) stated that the attachment relationship between a child and parents might help the child learn many skills important for survival, with a lifelong eff ect. However, there is a scarcity of research into attachment and intelligence in adulthood. This study examines the relationship between attachment status and cognitive skills in an Italian non-clinical sample of 101 young adults (M age = 22.6 yr.; SD = 1.8). The Adult Attachment Projective Picture Stimuli and the Wechsler Adult Intelligence Scale–Revised were administered to participants and four-way attachment classifi cations were analyzed regarding participants’ IQ. Statistically signifi cant diff erences were found for Full Scale IQ and Verbal IQ, with Dismissing participants scoring higher than Unresolved participants. Similar results were obtained for two-way attachment patterns with Resolved participants scoring higher than Unresolved. Implications regarding diff erent attachment patterns and the concept of trauma are discussed.