Special Interest Research Groups

GENERAL INFORMATION

The Society for Emotion and Attachment Studies (SEAS) is proud to host a number of Special Interest Research Groups – SIRGs. Each SIRG focusses on a specific attachment-related topic and aims at promoting associated theoretical and experimental advances.

Please see below for a short summary of the SIRGs and links to their respective websites. More information will be posted here once it becomes available.

SIRG FCAR

The Special Interest Research Group on Father-Child Attachment and Relationships (SIRG FCAR) brings together a diverse group of researchers interested in father-child attachment and relationships. SIRG FCAR intends to promote attachment research that goes beyond the study of mother-child relationships to consider the roles that other attachments (such as father-child attachment) play in positive child development. SIRG FCAR connects researchers to promote the exchange and discussion of ideas, theory, and methodologies to support the inclusion of fathers in attachment research with hopes of gaining a better understanding of father-child relationships and their role within the larger family system.

SIRG SoNeAt

The goal of the Special Interest Research Group on the Social Neuroscience of Human Attachment (SIRG SoNeAt) is to promote a systematic social (cognitive affective) neuroscience approach to investigate the underlying biological and brain basis of human attachment. This goal reflects the overarching philosophy of social neuroscience that emerged as a novel integration of theories and experimental approaches from both neuroscience and psychology in 1992. In the case of SoNeAt, this means an emphasis of multi-modal and multi-method investigations combining data on (i) the biological and brain basis of human attachment derived from social neuroscience methods with (ii) theoretical constructs and experimental approaches from the comprehensive psychology framework of attachment theory. It is the hope of SoNeAt that such integrative strategy will help elucidating whether and how social neuroscience may advance attachment theory within the 21st century.

 

SIRG AGC

The goal of the Special Interest Group on Attachment in a Global Context (SIRG – AGC) is to increase attachment research in non –western samples, and promote cross-cultural research. The group brings together researchers seeking to validate attachment tools in different contexts and collaborate in cross-cultural research. SIRG- AGC supports research that enhances the adoption and scaling of culturally relevant, evidence – based interventions for positive outcomes of children. It is the expectation of SIRG-AGC, that there will be a greater understanding of attachment of across cultures, thus contributing to attachment theory and practice.

 

SIRG GPEC

This is a platform for sharing attachment-related research ideas by graduate, post-graduate students and early career researchers within 7 years of graduation. The group aims to foster a supportive, intellectually stimulating environment for sharing insights and growing together in Emotional and Attachment Studies. The group will empower the next generation of researchers through webinars to discuss emerging research, theoretical debates, and methodological challenges. Through the group, members will also share experiences in their academic journey, form collaborations, and showcase their published studies on the SEAS website and conferences for visibility.

 

SIRG EAAR

SIRG Name: Evidence-based Applications of Attachment Research (EAAR)

Scope & Focus: The term “attachment” has been broadly applied in clinical practice, so much so that it is sometimes difficult for researchers and clinicians to identify when a scientifically-derived attachment construct is or is not being used. Similarly, clinicians may struggle to identify evidence-based attachment-focused approaches that embody the foundational principles of attachment theory and target key attachment-related mechanisms, whether it be for the purposes of assessment or therapeutic change. The broad usage of the term attachment in clinical applications creates barriers to researchers in assessing evidence and developing focused research questions. It also results in the misguided uptake of clinical interventions when evidence is lacking, creating a disservice to government agencies, clinical practitioners, and the public.

EAAR encourages applications of attachment theory and research through the development, evaluation, and implementation of evidence-based applications of attachment theory across the lifespan, including assessment and intervention methods. This SIRG provides guidance to researchers, educators and trainers, and clinicians on the defining features of attachment-based clinical approaches, evaluates the quality of evidence for attachment-based assessment and intervention models, and promotes the clinical application of the science of attachment.

Mission: 

  1. To work toward greater clarity on the defining features of attachment-based approaches to assessment and intervention and mitigate the misuse or misapplication of attachment in research and practice. 
  2. To promote greater awareness of evidence-based applications of attachment research to clinical assessment and intervention.
  3. To promote basic and advanced research on core attachment mechanisms and processes as they relate to psychopathology across the lifespan and inform the development, evaluation, and implementation of assessment and treatment approaches.