Emotional dependency: a systematic review of literature
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.5433/2236-6407.2016v7n1p77Keywords:
Emotional Dependency, Affective Dependence, Relational Dependency, Genuine DependenceAbstract
Emotional Dependency is a disorder characterized by addictive behaviors in romantic relationships. However, there is still controversy about whether this dependency should be considered pathological, as well as its appropriate denomination and the symptoms that would define it. This paper presents a systematic evaluation of the literature on emotional dependency, reviewing all the indexed articles in Scielo, CAPES, and Scholar Google databases, published between 2000 and 2014. After careful analysis, 20 studies were selected. The results show that emotional dependency is defined as an addictive disorder, in which the individual needs another to maintain his emotional balance. Its etiology is related to the development of attachment during childhood, in addition to cultural and phylogenetic factors. The indicated treatments are individual therapy, group therapy, support groups and self-help books. We point out some inconsistencies among the studies, showing the need for more research to elucidate these questions.References
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Sánchez Aragón, R. (2007). Significado psicológico del amor pasional: Lo claro y lo obscuro. Interamerican Journal of Psychology, 41(3), 391-402.
Sirvent, C. (2000, octubre). Las dependencias relacionales (D.R.): Dependencia emocional, codependencia y bidependencia. Resumos de Ponencias y Comunicaciones I Symposium Nacional sobre Adicción en la Mujer, Madrid, Espanha, 27-30. Disponível em http://www.fispiral.com.es/images/06- PDFs/libros/I-symposium.pdf
Sophia, E. C., Tavares, H., Berti, M. P., Pereira, A. P., Lorena, A., Mello, C., ..., & Ziilberman, M. L. (2009). Pathological love: Impulsivity, personality, and romantic relationship. CNS spectrums, 14(5), 268-274.
Sternberg, R. J. (1988). The triangle of love: Intimacy, passion, commitment. New York, NY: Basic Books. *Sussman, S. (2010). Love addiction: Definition, etiology, treatment. Sexual Addiction & Compulsivity, 17(1), 31-45. doi: 10.1080/10720161003604095
Vasconcelos, S. M., Feitosa, L. B., Felix, P. A., Aguiar, L. M. V., de Sousa, F. C. F., & Viana, G. S. B. (2002). Motivação, vias neuronais e drogas de abuso. Revista Psiquiatria Clínica, 29(3), 130-134.
Yela, C. (1997). Curso temporal de los componentes básicos del amor a lo largo de la relación de pareja. Psicothema, 9(1), 1-15.
Alonso–Arbiol, I., Shaver, P. R., & Yárnoz, S. (2002). Insecure attachment, gender roles, and interpersonal dependency in the Basque Country. Personal Reationships, 9(4), 479-490. doi: 10.1111/1475-6811.00030
Arntz, A. (2005). Pathological dependency: Distinguishing functional from emotional dependency. Clinical Psychology: Science and Practice, 12(4), 411-416. doi: 10.1093/clipsy.bpi051
Bartholomew, K., & Horowitz, L. M. (1991). Attachment styles among young adults: a test of a four-category model. Journal of Personality and Social Psychology, 61(2), 226-224. doi: 10.1037/0022-3514.61.2.226
Bartholomew, K., & Shaver, P. R. (1998). Methods of assessing adult attachment. In J. A. Simpson & W. S. Rholes (Eds.), Attachment theory and close relationships, (pp. 25-45). New York: Guilford Press.
Bornstein, R. F. (2006). The complex relationship between dependency and domestic violence: converging psychological factors and social forces. American Psychologist, 61(6), 595-606. doi: 10.1037/0003-066X.61.6.595
Bornstein, R. F. (2011). Reconceptualizing personality pathology in DSM-5: Limitations in evidence for eliminating dependent personality disorder and other DSM-IV syndromes. Journal of Personality Disorders, 25(2), 235-247. doi: 10.1521/pedi.2011.25.2.235
Bornstein, R. F. (2012). Illuminating a neglected clinical issue: Societal costs of interpersonal dependency and dependent personality disorder. Journal of clinical psychology, 68(7), 766-781. doi: 10.1002/jclp.21870
Bornstein, R. F., & Cecero, J. J. (2000). Deconstructing dependency in a fivefactor world: A meta-analytic review. Journal of Personality Assessment, 74(2), 324-343. doi: 10.1207/S15327752JPA7402_11
Charkow, W. B., & Nelson, E. S. (2000). Relationship dependency, dating violence, and scripts of female college students. Journal of College Counseling, 3(1), 17-28. doi: 10.1002/j.2161-1882.2000.tb00160.x
Cogswell, A., Alloy, L. B., Karpinski, A., & Grant, D. A. (2010). Assessing dependency using self-report and indirect measures: Examining the significance of discrepancies. Journal of Personality Assessment, 92(4), 306-316. doi: 10.1080/00223891.2010.481986
Fisher, H., Aron, A., & Brown, L. L. (2005). Romantic love: An fMRI study of a neural mechanism for mate choice. Journal of Comparative Neurology, 493 (1), 58-62. doi: 10.1002/cne.20772
Feeney, J. A., & Noller, P. (1990). Attachment style as a predictor of adult romantic relationships. Journal of Personality and Social Psychology, 58(2), 281-291.
Franco, B. E. R., & Aragón, R. S. (2008). El Papel de los Estilos de Apego y los Celos en la Asociación con el Amor Adictivo. Psicología, 16(1), 15-22.
Gude, T., Hoffart, A., Hedley, L., & Rø, Ø. (2004). The dimensionality of dependent personality disorder. Journal of Personality Disorders, 18(6), 604-610. doi: 10.1521/pedi.18.6.604.54793
Hazan, C., & Shaver, P. (1987). Romantic love conceptualized as an attachment process. Journal of Personality and Social Psychology, 52(3), 511-524. doi: 10.1037/0022-3514.52.3.511
Hoogstad, J. (2008). Choice Theory and Emotional Dependency. International Journal of Reality Therapy, 28(1), 63-68.
Izquierdo Martínez, S. A., & Gómez-Acosta, A. (2013). Dependencia afectiva: abordaje desde una perspectiva contextual. Psychologia: Avances De La Disciplina, 7(1), 81-91.
Jaller Jaramillo, C., & Lemos Hoyos, M. (2009). Esquemas desadaptivos tempranos en estudiantes universitarios con dependencia emocional. Acta Colombiana de Psicología, 12(2), 77-83.
Kane, T. A., Staiger, P. K., & Ricciardelli, L. A. (2000). Male domestic violence attitudes, aggression, and interpersonal dependency. Journal of Interpersonal Violence, 15(1), 16-29. doi: 10.1177/088626000015001002
Lemos Hoyos, M., Londoño Arredondo, N. H., & Zapata Echavarría, J. A. (2007). Distorsiones cognitivas en personas con dependencia emocional. Informes Psicológicos, 9(9), 55-69.
Lemos, M., Jaller, C., González, M. A., Díaz, Z. T., & De La Ossa, D. (2012). Perfil cognitivo de la dependencia emocional en estudiantes universitarios en Medellín, Colombia. Universitas Psychologica, 11(2), 395-404.
Moral, M. V., & Sirvent, C. (2008). Dependencias sentimentales o afectivas: Etiología clasificación y evaluación. Revista Española de Drogodependencias, 33(2), 151-167.
Moral, M. V., & Sirvent, C. (2009). Dependencia afectiva y género: Perfil sintomático diferencial en dependientes afectivos españoles. Interamerican Journal of Psychology, 43(2), 230-240.
Myers, B., Dilks, L. S., & Marceaux, J. (2007). An Exploration of Shyness and its Relationship to Partner Dependency in Romantic Relationships. North American Journal of Psychology, 9(2), 293-302.
Norwood, R. (1985). Women who love too much: When you keep wishing and hoping he'll change. New York, NY: Simon and Schuster.
Rubinstein, G. (2007). Two behavioral indicators of dependency and the Five‐Factor Model of personality. Psychology and Psychotherapy: Theory, Research and Practice, 80(3), 333-342. doi: 10.1348/147608306X133576
Sánchez Aragón, R. (2007). Significado psicológico del amor pasional: Lo claro y lo obscuro. Interamerican Journal of Psychology, 41(3), 391-402.
Sirvent, C. (2000, octubre). Las dependencias relacionales (D.R.): Dependencia emocional, codependencia y bidependencia. Resumos de Ponencias y Comunicaciones I Symposium Nacional sobre Adicción en la Mujer, Madrid, Espanha, 27-30. Disponível em http://www.fispiral.com.es/images/06- PDFs/libros/I-symposium.pdf
Sophia, E. C., Tavares, H., Berti, M. P., Pereira, A. P., Lorena, A., Mello, C., ..., & Ziilberman, M. L. (2009). Pathological love: Impulsivity, personality, and romantic relationship. CNS spectrums, 14(5), 268-274.
Sternberg, R. J. (1988). The triangle of love: Intimacy, passion, commitment. New York, NY: Basic Books. *Sussman, S. (2010). Love addiction: Definition, etiology, treatment. Sexual Addiction & Compulsivity, 17(1), 31-45. doi: 10.1080/10720161003604095
Vasconcelos, S. M., Feitosa, L. B., Felix, P. A., Aguiar, L. M. V., de Sousa, F. C. F., & Viana, G. S. B. (2002). Motivação, vias neuronais e drogas de abuso. Revista Psiquiatria Clínica, 29(3), 130-134.
Yela, C. (1997). Curso temporal de los componentes básicos del amor a lo largo de la relación de pareja. Psicothema, 9(1), 1-15.
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2016-07-07
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Bution, D. C., & Wechsler, A. M. (2016). Emotional dependency: a systematic review of literature. Estudos Interdisciplinares Em Psicologia, 7(1), 77–102. https://doi.org/10.5433/2236-6407.2016v7n1p77
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