Week 8 Reading

Practice flashcards derived from lecture notes about attachment theory and its implications in intimate relationships.

Attachment Theory

Early experiences with caregivers create mental models of self and others that persist into adulthood

Four Prototypic Attachment Styles

Derived from attachment-related anxiety and attachment-related avoidance

Secure Individuals

Low anxiety and low avoidance, Hold positive views of self and others, they interpret partner behaviour charitably

Attachment-Related Anxiety

One’s self of relational self-worth and acceptation (vs. rejection of others)

Attachment-Related Avoidance

One’s degree of comfort (or discomfort) with intimacy and interdepend with others

Preoccupied Attachment Style

High anxiety but low avoidance, comfortable with closeness but worried about being ejected and unloved, depends on acceptance by other software personal well being, lack confidence in how others perceive them

Fearful Attachment Style

High anxiety and high avoidance, desires social contact but is uncomfortable with intimacy due to distrust and expectations of rejection

Dismissing Attachment Style

Low anxiety but high avoidance, confident (see themselves as invulnerable to negative feelings) yet tends to view attachment figures as unreliable and uncaring, face potential rejection by denying and distancing

Insecure Model

Negative Interpretation → Negative Behaviour → Relationship Model

Transgressions Vignettes Study

Study 1, Ps read vignetter of hypothetical partner transgression (eg. partner forgot an important event) and rated their attributions, emotions, and behavioural intentions

Transgressions Vignettes & Positive Behaviour Study

Study 2, Ps read vignetters of both partners transgression and partner positive behaviour, relationships satisfaction was also measured as moderator

Pessimistic Attributions

Blamed the partner, saw it as intentional and reflective of partner’s character

Attachment Anxiety & Pessimistic Attributions

AnxA predicts PA for partner transgressions → emotional distress → conflict (conflict-promoting behaviour)

Attachment Anxiety Study 2

Found that anxious Ps less positive about partner caring behaviour, stronger effect in unhappy relationships

Attachment Avoidance and Pessimistic Attributions

AvoA predicts PA for partner positive behaviours (dismissing partner caring behaviour) → emotional distancing (relationships-distancing behaviour)

Attachment Avoidance Study 2

Happens regardless of relationships satisfaction (dispositional automatic pattern)

Mediation

Attributions and emotions mediate th link between attachment and behavioural intentions

Internal Working Models

These patterns are not due to relationships unhappiness but reflect the internal working models