DISCOURSE, MEMORY, AND THE ADULT ATTACHMENT INTERVIEW - A NOTE WITH EMPHASIS ON THE EMERGING CANNOT CLASSIFY CATEGORY

This brief report focuses on the emergence of a new Adult Attachment I nterview (AAI) category, Cannot Classify. The Adult Attachment Intervi ew classification system is discussed with emphasis upon differences i n AAI categories as they relate to strategies or lapses in strategy fo r the integration and focus of attention and memory. The Cannot Classi fy category is understood to differ from the other AAI categories in t hat it appears to represent a global breakdown in the organization and maintenance of a singular strategy for adhering to the discourse task s of the AAI. Some recent findings and speculations regarding clinical implications of the Cannot Classify category are provided.