Page 105 - EMCAPP-Journal No. 15
P. 105
Laurie A. Tone (USA)
Attachment Style and the Laurie A. Tone,
Acculturation Process of Ph.D., LPC
LMFT, LMHC-
Cross -Cultural Workers FL; LPC-MHSP-
AS-TN
Ph.D. Professio-
The burgeoning research on attachment theo- nal Counseling,
ry provides a fertile conceptualization of many Advanced Clini-
areas pertinent to cross-cultural service both in cal Skills, Liberty
the acculturation process and across the span of University
a career. A myriad of attachment-related con- MA Counseling, Gordon- Conwell Theologi-
structs emerge as the worker navigates and ne- cal Seminary
gotiates the cross-cultural environment. Accul- Title: Member Care Consultant
turation stress is one of the more obvious and Title: Adjunct Counseling Faculty, Practi-
consistent stressors cross-cultural workers face. cum/ Internship Evaluator, Grand Canyon
For most, adapting to a new and different cultu- University, 3300 West Camelback Drive,
re is not a one-time event, but rather a process Phoenix, AZ. 85017
with many facets which taps into and challenges Specializations: missionary member care,
core beliefs about one’s self, self-adequacy, and cross -cultural counseling, refugees, immi-
personal identity (Haupner-Kipna, 2000), all grants, integrated care.
understood as attachment -related constructs.
With that backdrop, acculturation and attach- Laurie, her husband and two daughters ser-
ment style will be considered along a spectrum ved as missionaries in Costa Rica, Argentina
from early arrival to career-long, cross -cultu- and Miami FL. Laurie has extensive expe-
ral service. These attachment related constructs rience in cross-cultural counseling and has
may impact other global workers such as hu- provided member care services both natio-
manitarian aid workers, business or embassy nally and internationally. Member care con-
personnel, however, this discussion will focus sultation, retreats and workshops are offered
predominantly on cross-cultural Christian mis- on a per diem basis. Laurie can be reached at:
sionaries.
membercareconsultant@gmail.com
Overview of Attachment Theory
Attachment theory, first proposed by Bowl- Former contribution in our eJournal by
by (1969, 1973, 1988) and further explored by Laurie you can see her:
Ainsworth (1973, 1985, 1991), Ainsworth, Ble- https://emcapp.ignis.de/14/#p=170
har, Waters, and Wall (1978), and Main (1996),
proposes that early relationships formed with
primary caregivers lay a foundation for future children who have a primary caregiver who is
relationships, as well as for psychological and not nurturing or is inconsistent or unavailable
emotional functioning (Bretherton, 1992). Ac- are more likely to develop insecure attachment
cording to attachment theory, early experiences styles (Bowlby, 1969, 1973, 1988; Cozolino,
with primary caregivers are embedded in the 2010; Sroufe & Siegel, 2011).
implicit memory system of the child (Cozo- Over time, these early relationships with at-
lino, 2010; Siegel, 1999). Children who have a tachment figures lead to the development of a
primary caregiver who is reliable, available, and schema or mental model of security called the
nurturing in a consistent pattern are more like- Internal Working Model. The Internal Working
ly to develop secure attachment styles (Bowl- Model provides a lens through which the per-
by, 1969, 1973, 1988; Siegel, 1999). Conversely, son views him or herself and views the world
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