Personality Dimensions
We Are Biological Machines
Programmed By Our Caregivers
Core Subject 2
Personality Dimensions
The MAPP focuses on the knowledge part of personality. Attachment provides the core of this knowledge through its 7-dimensional Internal Working Model: a data structure constituted of 7 pieces of information that are first imprinted early in life (within the 6th year). These dimensions are acquired in attachment interactions and constitute the socio-psychological firmware of our mind.
The 7 videos of this section describe each personality dimension in detail.
- 1. Disorganization and The Frightening Caregiver
- 2. Avoidance and The Insensitive Caregiver
- 3. Ambivalence and The Unresponsive Caregiver
- 4. Phobicity and The Limiting Caregiver
- 5. Depressivity and The Unreachable Caregiver
- 6. Somaticity and The Defining Caregiver
- 7. Obsessivity and The Judgmental Caregiver
Disorganization and
The Frightening Caregiver
Disorganization: 1st attachment/personality dimension. It is defined as the subjective measure of the caregiver’s frightfulness. In other words, this dimension is induced by a caregiver who is frightening (or at least perceived as such). It derives from the caregiver’s failure in the fundamental task of being protective.
Avoidance and
The Insensitive caregiver
Avoidance: 2nd attachment/personality dimension. It is defined as the subjective measure of the caregiver’s insensitivity. In other words, this dimension is induced by a caregiver who is insensitive (or at least perceived as such). It derives from the caregiver’s failure in the fundamental task of providing emotional care, i.e. love.
Ambivalence and
The Unresponsive Caregiver
Ambivalence: 3rd attachment/personality dimension. It is defined as the subjective measure of the caregiver’s unresponsiveness. In other words, this dimension is induced by a caregiver who is unresponsive (or at least perceived as such). It derives from the caregiver’s failure in the fundamental task of being physically there when needed.
Phobicity and
The Limiting Caregiver
Phobicity: 4th attachment/personality dimension. It is defined as the subjective measure of the caregiver’s limitation. In other words, this dimension is induced by a caregiver who is limiting (or at least perceived as such). It derives from the caregiver’s failure in the fundamental task of ensuring protection to the child while promoting their autonomous exploration.
Depressivity and
The Unreachable Caregiver
Depressivity: 5th attachment/personality dimension. It is defined as the subjective measure of the caregiver’s unreachability. In other words, this dimension is induced by a caregiver who is unreachable (or at least perceived as such). It derives from the caregiver’s failure in the fundamental task of responding to the child’s initiatives of emotional connection.
Somaticity and
The Defining Caregiver
Somaticity: 6th attachment/personality dimension. It is defined as the subjective measure of the caregiver’s definition. In other words, this dimension is induced by a caregiver who is defining (or at least perceived as such). It derives from the caregiver’s failure in the fundamental task of regulating the internal states of the child, thereby promoting their self-definition.
Obsessivity and
The Judgmental Caregiver
Obsessivity: 7th attachment/personality dimension. It is defined as the subjective measure of the caregiver’s blame. In other words, this dimension is induced by a caregiver who is judgmental/blaming (or at least perceived as such). It derives from the caregiver’s failure in the fundamental task of providing an ethical guidance to the child.
F.A.Q.
Personality Dimensions
Generally speaking, an attachment/personality dimension is an area of experience concerning the attachment relationship. Each of these dimensions corresponds to an inducing caregiving feature. The MAPP identifies 7 of such dimensions and corresponding features. Disorganization is induced by a frightening caregiver, for example, avoidance by an insensitive caregiver, ambivalence by an unresponsive caregiver.
Attachment phenomena become particularly evident in dysfunctional situations. For example, usually, a caregiver is protective (and not frightening), loving (and not insensitive), reliable (and not unresponsive). In these cases, the role of the caregiver is not highlighted. As a result, the attachment dimensions and corresponding caregiving features have been given negative names.
Yes, we do. Each dimension can be thought of as a core belief whose strength can vary. These beliefs can be represented by zero-to-one variables, whose particular values determine a specific personality profile. For example, if one has a peak phobicity value, they will be more sensitive to phobic themes, such as constriction and vulnerability. If one has a peak obsessive value, they will be particularly sensitive to (some) ethical matters. Values beyond a certain threshold will more easily cause psychological discomfort.
Personality can be assessed. A MAPP-trained clinician can do that in clinical sessions. This kind of assessment is the preferential one, but we also developed a clinical self-report – the MAPP personality test – that provides a personality profile. It is a powerful clinical tool that can promote self-awareness and detect possible discomfort, for which a professional consultation is suggested. The test is available on this site.
Each dimension corresponds to a fundamental area for our adaptation. As such, they are all essential. However, some of them can be related to more severe dysfunctions. From this perspective, disorganization is the most critical since it is related to traumatic experiences and dissociative symptoms.
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