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Attachment and exploration in adulthood.

Andrew J Elliot1, Harry T Reis

  • 1Department of Clinical and Social Sciences in Psychology, University of Rochester, New York 14627, USA. andye@scp.rochester.edu

Journal of Personality and Social Psychology
|August 15, 2003
PubMed
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Adult attachment styles influence achievement motivation and goals. This study links attachment theory to motivation concepts, finding that how adults perceive challenges and value competence mediates these relationships.

Area of Science:

  • Psychology
  • Social Psychology
  • Motivation Science

Background:

  • Attachment theory posits an exploration system linked to motivation.
  • Achievement motivation literature emphasizes motives and goals.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To examine the theoretical and empirical links between adult attachment and exploration.
  • To investigate the relationship between adult attachment styles and achievement motives and goals.

Main Methods:

  • Theoretical integration of attachment theory with effectance motivation and achievement motivation.
  • Empirical investigation using four studies with categorical, continuous, and dimensional measures of adult attachment.
  • Mediational analyses to explore the role of challenge/threat construal and competence valuation.

Related Experiment Videos

Main Results:

  • A significant link was found between adult attachment and achievement motives (need for achievement, fear of failure).
  • Attachment was also linked to various achievement goals (mastery-approach, mastery-avoidance, performance-approach, performance-avoidance).
  • Mediational analyses confirmed that challenge/threat construal and competence valuation explain these associations.

Conclusions:

  • Adult attachment security is associated with adaptive achievement motivation and goal orientations.
  • Cognitive appraisals (construal of challenges/threats) and competence valuation are key mediators.
  • Findings support the integration of attachment theory and achievement motivation research.