Insecurity is the emotion associated with a lack of confidence within oneself. It is often associated with feelings of fear and uncertainty, especially surrounding one's abilities. The word was originally used in the psychological sense in the year 1917. It has been observed in both adults and children. The word is also associated with attachment styles.
Characteristics
Abraham Maslow described an insecure person as a person who "perceives the world as a threatening jungle and most human beings as dangerous and selfish; feels like a rejected and isolated person, anxious and hostile; is generally pessimistic and unhappy; shows signs of tension and conflict, tends to turn inward; is troubled by guilt-feelings, has one or another disturbance of self-esteem; tends to be neurotic; and is generally selfish and egocentric." He viewed in every insecure person a continual, never dying, longing for security.
A person's capacity for deep thought, understanding others' perspectives, and awareness of their own mortality can contribute to feelings of insecurity. One hypothesis proposes that children's responses to marital conflict are driven by their need for emotional security, which influences their emotional regulation and behavior. This theory suggests that children's past experiences with marital conflict shape their emotional security, which in turn affects their long-term adjustment and future responses to family dynamics, including parent-child relationships.
Feelings of insecurity can arise due to feelings of inadequacy in any domain, whether it may be in a relationship or workplace setting.
See also
- Anxiety
- Cowardice
- Social vulnerability
References
- Oxford Dictionary-Insecurity
- "APA Dictionary of Psychology".
- "Definition of INSECURE".
- "Insecurity | Etymology of insecurity by etymonline".
- Cummings, E. M., & Davies, P. (1996). Emotional security as a regulatory process in normal development and the development of psychopathology. Development and psychopathology, 8(1), 123-139.
- Baer, J. C., & Martinez, C. D. (2006). Child maltreatment and insecure attachment: A meta‐analysis. Journal of reproductive and infant psychology, 24(3), 187-197.
- Jinyao, Y., Xiongzhao, Z., Auerbach, R. P., Gardiner, C. K., Lin, C., Yuping, W., & Shuqiao, Y. (2012). Insecure attachment as a predictor of depressive and anxious symptomology. Depression and anxiety, 29(9), 789-796.
- Maslow, A. H. (1942). "The Dynamics of Psychological Security-Insecurity". Journal of Personality. 10 (4): 331–344. doi:10.1111/j.1467-6494.1942.tb01911.x.
- Alegre, A. (2008). "Emotional security and its relationship with emotional intelligence" (PDF). Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University. Archived from the original (PDF) on 16 January 2014. Retrieved 21 November 2012.
- Forgas, J. P. (2023). Understanding the psychology of insecurity: Evolutionary, cognitive, and cultural perspectives. In The Psychology of Insecurity (pp. 3-20). Routledge.
- Davies, P. T., & Cummings, E. M. (1994). Marital conflict and child adjustment: an emotional security hypothesis. Psychological bulletin, 116(3), 387.
- "Signs of Insecurity".
Insecurity is the emotion associated with a lack of confidence within oneself It is often associated with feelings of fear and uncertainty especially surrounding one s abilities The word was originally used in the psychological sense in the year 1917 It has been observed in both adults and children The word is also associated with attachment styles CharacteristicsAbraham Maslow described an insecure person as a person who perceives the world as a threatening jungle and most human beings as dangerous and selfish feels like a rejected and isolated person anxious and hostile is generally pessimistic and unhappy shows signs of tension and conflict tends to turn inward is troubled by guilt feelings has one or another disturbance of self esteem tends to be neurotic and is generally selfish and egocentric He viewed in every insecure person a continual never dying longing for security A person s capacity for deep thought understanding others perspectives and awareness of their own mortality can contribute to feelings of insecurity One hypothesis proposes that children s responses to marital conflict are driven by their need for emotional security which influences their emotional regulation and behavior This theory suggests that children s past experiences with marital conflict shape their emotional security which in turn affects their long term adjustment and future responses to family dynamics including parent child relationships Feelings of insecurity can arise due to feelings of inadequacy in any domain whether it may be in a relationship or workplace setting See alsoAnxiety Cowardice Social vulnerabilityReferencesOxford Dictionary Insecurity APA Dictionary of Psychology Definition of INSECURE Insecurity Etymology of insecurity by etymonline Cummings E M amp Davies P 1996 Emotional security as a regulatory process in normal development and the development of psychopathology Development and psychopathology 8 1 123 139 Baer J C amp Martinez C D 2006 Child maltreatment and insecure attachment A meta analysis Journal of reproductive and infant psychology 24 3 187 197 Jinyao Y Xiongzhao Z Auerbach R P Gardiner C K Lin C Yuping W amp Shuqiao Y 2012 Insecure attachment as a predictor of depressive and anxious symptomology Depression and anxiety 29 9 789 796 Maslow A H 1942 The Dynamics of Psychological Security Insecurity Journal of Personality 10 4 331 344 doi 10 1111 j 1467 6494 1942 tb01911 x Alegre A 2008 Emotional security and its relationship with emotional intelligence PDF Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University Archived from the original PDF on 16 January 2014 Retrieved 21 November 2012 Forgas J P 2023 Understanding the psychology of insecurity Evolutionary cognitive and cultural perspectives In The Psychology of Insecurity pp 3 20 Routledge Davies P T amp Cummings E M 1994 Marital conflict and child adjustment an emotional security hypothesis Psychological bulletin 116 3 387 Signs of Insecurity
