Wholeness is Holiness

Attachment Theory
3.4 ASSIGNMENT
DOUGLAS E TAYLOR II

INDIANA WESLEYAN UNIVERSITY

PSY-440: PSYCH AND SPIRITUAL FORMATION

JAMES SAUNDERS

JULY 30, 2021

Secure
attachment
SECULAR PERSPECTIVE
-POSITIVE VIEW OF SELF AND OTHERS
AND HEALTHY VIEW OF INTIMACY
CHRISTIAN PERSPECTIVE
-CLOSE RELATIONSHIP WITH GOD THAT
CAN BE DIFFICULT, BUT THE RELATIONSHIP
PROVIDES HOPE AND MEANING TO
ONE’S LIFE
(Eckert & Kimball as cited by Hall & McMinn, 2003).
Preoccupied
attachment
SECULAR PERSPECTIVE
-NEGATIVE VIEW OF SELF BUT A POSITIVE
VIEW OF OTHERS. PREOCCUPIED WITH
THE CONCEPT OF RELATIONSHIPS
RELIGIOUS PERSPECTIVE
-HAVE MIXED FEELINGS TOWARD GOD
AND HIS LOVE MUST BE EARNED AND
OFTEN THEY FEEL UNWORTHY OF HIS LOVE
(Eckert & Kimball as cited by Hall & McMinn, 2003).
Fearful
attachment
SECULAR PERSPECTIVE
-NEGATIVE VIEW OF SELF AND OTHERS.
FEAR OF INTIMACY AND AVOIDS
RELATIONSHIPS
RELIGIOUS PERSPECTIVE
-GOD IS DISTANT AND HARSH. FEEL
INADEQUATE LIKE NOTHING IS EVER
GOOD ENOUGH FOR GOD NO MATTER
HOW HARD THEY TRY
(Eckert & Kimball as cited by Hall & McMinn, 2003).
 Dismissing and
defensive
attachment
SECULAR PERSPECTIVE IS DISMISSING
-POSITIVE VIEW OF SELF BUT A NEGATIVE VIEW OF
OTHERS. INTIMACY IS DISMISSED
RELIGIOUS PERSPECTIVE IS DEFENSIVE
-FEEL CLOSE TO GOD AND THINK GOD VIEWS THEM AS
DEVOTED. HAVE A LEGALISTIC VIEW OF GOD INSTEAD
OF A RELATIONAL VIEW OF HIM. ALL ABOUT
FOLLOWING THE RULES. GET DEFENSIVE WHEN THEIR
DEVOTION TO GOD IS CHALLENGED
(Eckert & Kimball as cited by Hall & McMinn, 2003).
Security
inspires growth
OF THE FOUR TYPES OF ATTACHMENTS BOTH SECULAR
AND RELIGIOUS THE SECURE ATTACHMENT BRINGS THE
MOST GROWTH AND MATURITY. THIS TYPE OF
ATTACHMENT PLACES THE MOST FOCUS ON
RELATIONSHIPS. RELATIONSHIPS IN ALL FORMS; HUMAN
RELATIONSHIPS, RELATIONSHIP WITH GOD, AND
RELATIONSHIP WITH SELF. THERE IS A POSITIVE VIEW OF
ALL PARTIES INVOLVED IN THE RELATIONSHIP AND IT IS
OKAY AND EXPECTED THAT THE RELATIONSHIP WILL
TAKE WORK JUST LIKE GROWTH TAKES WORK (Eckert &
Kimball as cited by Hall & McMinn, 2003). POSITIVE
GROWTH ALWAYS TAKES WORK AND NEVER HAPPENS
WITHOUT PUTTING IN EFFORT AND THOSE WITH A
SECURE ATTACHMENT REALIZE THIS AND THEREFORE PUT
IN THE WORK NEEDED TO GROW.
WHOLENESS
IS HOLINESS
WITHOUT GROWTH THERE CAN BE NO HOPE TO MOVE
TOWARD WHOLENESS OR HOLINESS. AND WITHOUT
HAVING SECURITY IN RELATIONSHIPS THERE IS NO
DESIRE FOR HEALTHY GROWTH. THIS IS TRUE WITH BOTH
HUMAN RELATIONSHIPS AND SPIRITUAL
RELATIONSHIPS. ONE MUST HAVE A SECURE VIEW OF
THEIR RELATIONSHIP WITH GOD IN ORDER GROW THAT
RELATIONSHIP TO A GREATER DEPTH. IF ONE FALLS
INTO ONE OF THE OTHER ATTACHMENTS AMONG
THEIR PEERS THEY MUST DO THEIR UTMOST TO TRY AND
ESTABLISH A SECURE RELATIONSHIP WITH GOD IF THEY
HOPE TO GROW TOWARD SPIRITUAL MATURITY,
WHOLENESS, AND HOLINESS. IT WOULD BE IDEAL TO BE
SECURE IN ALL ATTACHMENTS BUT STARTING WITH
GOD IS A GREAT PLACE TO START.
REFERNCE SLIDE

 Hall, T. W., & McMinn, M. R. (Eds.). (2003). Spiritual formation,

counseling, and psychotherapy. Nova Science Publishers.
http://www.novapublishers.com

 LINK TO WEBSITE

 https://dougewtaylor.weebly.com