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is anxious. Second, we can more readily avoid and God attachments may become disrup-
misleading distinctions. For Maria and Pavel to ted. Hurt, disappointment, anger, bitterness,
be different in ways that matter, psychologists despair and other emotions and actions may
generally think in terms of differences of two or ensue, even psychopathology (e.g., Crittenden,
more standard deviations between them. When 2016; DeKlyen & Greenberg, 2008; Fonagy, et
grouped into categories there is a tendency to al., 1996; Spieker & Crittenden, 2018), along
think of persons near the middle as different with religious/spiritual struggles. The Adverse
since they are assigned to different categories. Childhood Experiences literature makes the-
But in a normal distribution about two thirds of se human effects abundantly clear (e.g., Anda
any sample fall within one standard deviation & Felitti, 2006). Perhaps this accounts for the
above or below the mean and thus they do not warning to not cause a little one to stumble (Mt.
differ to any important degree. If their scores lie 18:6); God has placed His mark on humans (the
on opposite sides but in this middle range, both imago dei, Gen 1:26-27) and He takes personal-
Maria and Pavel may be uneasy if she is told she ly the way we treat each other (Mt 25:31-40). At
is secure and he is told he is anxious. More like- such times, both religious/spiritual healing and
ly they are both more anxious sometimes and psychotherapy may help.
more secure at other times.
In summary, attachment is related to love, which
At least in part attachment is a physical and is central to Christian beliefs. Attachment is a
embodied process. Physical touch, eye contact, rich and complex relational process that en-
vocal-auditory engagement, even endocrinolo- compasses elements of both divine and human
gical processes (e.g., oxytocin is the hormone of love. Ruptured attachment is associated with a
social bonding) are parts of attachment. When wide range of human suffering and distress and
exposed to abuse, neglect, and human trauma, the repair of ruptures is the cornerstone of he-
each of these processes can also lead to detach- aling for both human and divine relationships.
ment or alienation.

The language of attachment does not appear References
in the Bible. Perhaps it is a newer concept, or Ainsworth, M. D., & Bell, S. M. (1970). Attachment, ex-
maybe it’s one more suited to scientific study. ploration, and separation: Illustrated by the behavior of
one-year-olds in a strange situation. Child Development,
However, love is a related concept that is central 41(1), 49-67. doi:10.2307/1127388
in the biblical story. Love comes from God (1 Anda, R. F., Felitti, V. J., Walker, J., Whitfield, C. L., Brem-
Jn 4:7-8). God calls us to love Him and to love ner, J. D., Perry, B. D., Dube, S. R., Giles, W. H. (2006).
those around us (Mt 22:35-40; Jn 13:34). The enduring effects of abuse and related adverse expe-
riences in childhood: a convergence of evidence from
neurobiology and epidemiology. European Archives of
Attachment to God can also become ruptu- Psychiatry and Clinical Neurosciences; 56 (3),174–186.
red. Among psychologists these have come to Crittenden, P.M. (2015a). Peering into the black box: An
be called religious/spiritual struggles (Exline, exploratory treatise on the development of self in young
2013; Exline, Pargament, Grubbs, & Yali, 2014; children. In Danger, Development and Adaptation: Se-
Stauner, Exline, & Wilt, 2020; Wilts et al., 2019). minal Papers on the Dynamic Maturational Model of At-
tachment and Adaptation. (1st ed., pp. 209-295). United
In what is perhaps the deepest human form of Kingdom: Waterside Press.
attachment, that of the marital relationship, at- Crittenden, P.M. (2015b). Truth, error, omission, dis-
tachment is ordained by God. Here attachment tortion, and deception: The application of attachment
may become so deep that the marital pair beco- theory to the assessment and treatment of psychological
mes “one flesh” (Gen 2:22-25). The biblical lan- disorder. In Danger, Development and Adaptation: Semi-
nal Papers on the Dynamic Maturational Model of At-
guage of sin can be seen as largely the opposite tachment and Adaptation. (1st ed., pp. 406-457). United
of attachment; sin is a profound rupture of divi- Kingdom: Waterside Press.
ne and human attachment. DeKlyen, M., Greenberg, M. (2008). Attachment and
When bad things happen to us as a result of psychopathology in childhood. In Handbook of Attach-
the actions or failures of others, both human ment, Second Edition Theory, Research, and Clinical

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