Insecurity is the emotion associated with a lack of confidence within oneself.[1] It is often associated with feelings of fear and uncertainty, especially surrounding one's abilities.[2][3] The word was originally used in the psychological sense in the year 1917.[4] It is an emotion that is has been observed within adults and children.[5] The word is also associated with attachment styles.[6][7]
^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.