Attachment styles and construction of self in a clinical group of aerophobic: a pilot study

These constructivist exploratory study set out to explore the relationship between flying phobia and attachment styles, as well as between phobia and construction of self, others and world. We hyphothesised that individual affected by flying phobia would display avoidant and anxious-ambivalent attachment styles, and that their core constructs would be semantically related to primary “freedom/dependence” construct. 40 individuals affected by aerophobia were administered with two self reported instruments (AAQ and ASQ) after compiled a self-characterization. The phobic group was significantly connected to an avoidant style. In addition the phobic individuals define themselves as dependant, fearful, powerless and reserved. Clinical implication of this study, limitations and future directions are discussed.