Differences in life aspirations between attachment styles

Cilj ovog istraživanja bio je proširiti razumijevanje teorije privrženosti i povezati je sa životnim težnjama prema teoriji samoodređenja na način da se ispitaju razlike između sigurno i nesigurno privrženih pojedinaca u strukturi životnih težnji. Životne težnje su unutarnje (osobni rast i razvoj, značajni odnosi i rad u korist zajednice) te vanjske (bogatstvo, slava i izgled). U istraživanju je sudjelovalo 300 sudionika. Riješili su Upitnik iskustava u bliskim vezama te Upitnik o životnim težnjama (AI). Podatci su prikupljeni online tijekom ljeta 2016. Provedene statističke analize ukazuju na neke razlike između tipova privrženosti. Nesigurno privrženi pojedinci procijenjuju ekstrinzične životne težnje bitnijima od sigurno privrženih pojedinaca, dok sigurno privrženi pojedinci procijenjuju značajne odnose bitnijima. Također su dobivene neke razlike u aspektu samoprocjene vjerojatnosti njihovog ostvarenja u budućnosti te samoprocjeni njihovog dosadašnjeg ostvarenja. Moguće objašnjenje takvih nalaza jest da nesigurno privrženi pojedinci kompenziraju nedostatak roditeljske brige vanjskim potvrdama, odnosno ekstrinzičnim životnim težnjama. Korisno je dalje istražiti teoriju privrženosti u kontekstu životnih stremljenja radi češćeg korištenja novih spoznaja u savjetodavnom i psihoterapijskom radu.The aim of this study was to expand the understanding of attachment theory, and connect it to the life aspirations according to self-determination theory in order to examine the differences of life aspiration structure between securely and insecurely attached individuals. There are intrinsic life aspirations (personal growth and development, meaningful relationships and activities for the sake of community) and extrinsic life aspirations (wealth, fame and appearance). 300 people participated in this study. They took the Experiences in close relationships Inventory and the Life aspirations questionnaire (AI). Data was collected online during the summer of 2016. Conducted statistic analyses point out some of the differences between attachment styles. Insecurely attached individuals assess extrinsic life goals of higher value compared to securely attached individuals, whereas securely attached individuals assess significant relationships of higher value compared to insecurely attached individuals. Also, some of the differences are shown in aspect of self-assessment of importance of certain life aspirations, self-assessment of the likelihood of their future accomplishments and selfassessment of their current accomplishments. Possible explanation of such findings is that insecurely attached individuals compensate the lack of their parents' care with external validations, therefore, extrinsic life goals. It is useful to keep studying the attachment theory in the context of life goals for the purpose of more frequent use of new understandings in counceling and psychotherapy