Freud: the first evolutionary psychologist?
An evolutionary perspective on attachment theory and psychoanalytic theory brings these two fields together in interesting ways. Application of the evolutionary principle of parent-offspring conflict to attachment theory suggests that attachment styles represent context-sensitive, evolved (adaptive) behaviors. In addition, an emphasis on offspring counter-strategies to adult reproductive strategies leads to consideration of attachment styles as overt manifestations of psychodynamic mediating processes, including the defense mechanisms of repression and reaction formation.
LeCroy
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Department of Psychology, Hunter College of CUNY, New York 10021, USA.
D000328:Adult; D005075:Biological Evolution; D003674:Defense Mechanisms; D005619:Freudian Theory; D006801:Humans; D009769:Object Attachment; D011584:Psychology