Attachment theory proposes that there are several behavioral systems, sometimes called motivational systems. Attachment is one of those systems. I have also seen other systems described, such as caregiving, exploration, power, etc. What I am looking for is a source that lists all of those systems.
Are you looking at child or adult systems? Actually, Wikipedia has a pretty good summary of the early childhood patterns. The description of adults is fairly good, too. Remember that Psychology--particularly the Association for Psychological Science--has been on almost a decade-long push for psychologists to be Wikipedia contributors. It's not a bad place to start a query on any psychology-related question.
Thanks, but that is not what I am looking for. You seem to be talking about attachment patterns, such as secure, avoidant, etc. What I need is a list of behavioral systems.
This article describes several behavioral systems: Article Attachment Theory Expanded: A Behavioral Systems Approach
However, I have seen other systems mentioned elsewhere. I’m looking for a complete list of all of them.
Thanks. I can't remember seeing any comprehensive 'list,' although Bronfenbrenner's ecological systems theory provides a framework for thinking about systems. If I think of anything, or come across a list, I'll post it.
Dear Juan,
this is an handbook article, and the authors are known to be proponents of a version of attachment theory, which sees attachment as a kind of personality trait.
This is accepted by many, though not all. I would recommend that you look into this handbook proper and read the authors‘ theory by itself. Otherwise, if you would like to consult the original attachment theory in terms of human ethology, I would like to instruct you to read into John Bowlby‘s orignial books on attachment, separation and loss.
Yes, if one is looking for an understanding rather than just a list, read Bowlby, Ainsworth, and then some more recent articles.
I’m disappointed in the answers I am getting. Bowlby explained his concept of behavioral systems in his “Attachment” book. He just didn’t list all of them.
Perhaps there is no comprehensive published list. Maybe that is a project for someone.
You can read:
Fassone, G., Valcella, F., Pallini, S., et al. & the Italian Group for the Study of Interpersonal Motivation (2012). Assessment of Interpersonal Motivation in Transcripts (AIMIT): An inter- and intra-rater reliability study of a new method of detection of interpersonal motivational systems in psychotherapy. Clinical Psychology & Psychotherapy, 19, 224–34. ISSN: 1063-3995 doi: 10.1002/cpp.742
Thanks. This is close to what I was looking for and it is interesting. However, I noticed that the exploration and power systems are not included. Perhaps you all don’t consider them relevant. In any case, it seems that there is no source that lists all of the behavioral systems that have been proposed.
I know that Bowlby wrote about the exploration system. As I said in a previous answer, he did not make a complete list of all the systems as far as I know. I’m looking for a complete list. It seems there isn’t one.
Answering my own question, this article is the closest I have found to what I have been looking for: http://www.psychomedia.it/rapaport-klein/cortina+liotti05.htm
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