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EDITOR-
Batty et al. (1) in a recent publication tested the hypothesis that IQ is
a fundamental cause of socioeconomic inequalities in health. They found
that some support for this hypothesis although the evidence is limited.
An alternative and as far as I am aware, as yet untested hypothesis
is to suggest that socioeconomic inequalities leads to an increased
prevalence of insecure attachment in the "have-not's" of society and that
this will manifest itself in various ways, including in a measurement of
IQ.
There is evidence to support such a hypothesis. Attachment theory
postulates that a childs early experience of care and caregivers will
significantly influence future relationships and internal states of mind.
Research indicates that attachment status and more particularly insecure
types of attachment are associated with psychopathology, relationship
difficulties, aggression and problems in learning.(2)
Secure attachment is predicted at an individual level by caregiver
sensitivity, responsiveness, involvement and a capacity of the caregiver
to view the infant as a thinking and feeling person. The reverse
relationship is apparent for the prediction of insecure types of
attachment.
At a societal level Wilkinson (3) suggests that socioeconomic
inequalities leads to a "kicking down" such that those in the more
disadvantaged and vulnerable positions of society will suffer. In a
society in which there are marked differences between the "have and have-
not's" there is a sense in which those at nearer the bottom of the heap
are being treated by the remainder of society with less sensitivity,
responsiveness and involvement. As this effect is "kicked down" it is
likely that this will be manifested in the caregiving of infants at an
individual level.
This hypothesis would predict that gradually in a society marked with
significant inequalities that insecure types of attachment will become
more prevalent. This in turn will predispose to an increased prevalence of
psychological, interpersonal and conceivably physical problems for
individuals and aggression and social fragmentation at a community level.
The further significant point is that insecure attachment in one
generation will predict the same for the next. It may be then that the
problems of inequalities in our contemporary society predict significant
problems for future generations.
Mark Cohen, Consultant Psychotherapist
References
1. Batty, D.G, Der,g., Macintyre, S., Deary,I.J. Does IQ explain
socioeconomic inequalities in health ? Evidence from a population based
cohort study in the west of scotland. BMJ 2006;332; 580-584. (11 March)
2. Fonagy, P. Attachment theory and psychoanalysis. Other press, New York,
2001.
3. Wilkinson ,R. The impact of inequality. How to make sick societies
healthier.The new press, new york, London. 2005.
Socioeconomic inequalities in health and the search for psychosocial causation.
EDITOR-
Batty et al. (1) in a recent publication tested the hypothesis that IQ is
a fundamental cause of socioeconomic inequalities in health. They found
that some support for this hypothesis although the evidence is limited.
An alternative and as far as I am aware, as yet untested hypothesis
is to suggest that socioeconomic inequalities leads to an increased
prevalence of insecure attachment in the "have-not's" of society and that
this will manifest itself in various ways, including in a measurement of
IQ.
There is evidence to support such a hypothesis. Attachment theory
postulates that a childs early experience of care and caregivers will
significantly influence future relationships and internal states of mind.
Research indicates that attachment status and more particularly insecure
types of attachment are associated with psychopathology, relationship
difficulties, aggression and problems in learning.(2)
Secure attachment is predicted at an individual level by caregiver
sensitivity, responsiveness, involvement and a capacity of the caregiver
to view the infant as a thinking and feeling person. The reverse
relationship is apparent for the prediction of insecure types of
attachment.
At a societal level Wilkinson (3) suggests that socioeconomic
inequalities leads to a "kicking down" such that those in the more
disadvantaged and vulnerable positions of society will suffer. In a
society in which there are marked differences between the "have and have-
not's" there is a sense in which those at nearer the bottom of the heap
are being treated by the remainder of society with less sensitivity,
responsiveness and involvement. As this effect is "kicked down" it is
likely that this will be manifested in the caregiving of infants at an
individual level.
This hypothesis would predict that gradually in a society marked with
significant inequalities that insecure types of attachment will become
more prevalent. This in turn will predispose to an increased prevalence of
psychological, interpersonal and conceivably physical problems for
individuals and aggression and social fragmentation at a community level.
The further significant point is that insecure attachment in one
generation will predict the same for the next. It may be then that the
problems of inequalities in our contemporary society predict significant
problems for future generations.
Mark Cohen, Consultant Psychotherapist
References
1. Batty, D.G, Der,g., Macintyre, S., Deary,I.J. Does IQ explain
socioeconomic inequalities in health ? Evidence from a population based
cohort study in the west of scotland. BMJ 2006;332; 580-584. (11 March)
2. Fonagy, P. Attachment theory and psychoanalysis. Other press, New York,
2001.
3. Wilkinson ,R. The impact of inequality. How to make sick societies
healthier.The new press, new york, London. 2005.
Competing interests:
None declared
Competing interests: No competing interests