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Working models of attachment and attribution processes in intimate relationships
Nancy L Collins1, Máire B Ford, AnaMarie C Guichard
1Department of Psychology, University of California-Santa Barbara, CA 93106, USA. ncollins@psych.ucsb.edu
Personality & Social Psychology Bulletin
|December 31, 2005
Summary
Individuals with anxious attachment styles interpret partner actions negatively, leading to distress and conflict in romantic relationships. Avoidant individuals show biased interpretations, especially in unhappy relationships.
Area of Science:
- Social Psychology
- Relationship Science
- Attachment Theory
Background:
- Attachment theory posits that early relationship experiences shape internal working models.
- These models influence social cognition and behavior in adult romantic relationships.
- Understanding these links is crucial for relationship satisfaction and stability.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the relationship between working models of attachment and social construal in romantic partners.
- To examine how attachment anxiety and avoidance affect attributions for partner behaviors.
- To explore the role of relationship satisfaction in these processes.
Main Methods:
- Two studies were conducted involving participants assessing their attachment styles and perceptions of partner behaviors.
- Participants responded to hypothetical scenarios involving partner transgressions and positive actions.
- Statistical analyses controlled for confounding variables like mood and self-esteem.
Main Results:
- Anxious individuals made more threatening attributions for partner transgressions, increasing distress and conflict potential.
- These effects were mediated by attributions and attachment needs.
- Avoidant individuals showed biased attributions for positive and negative behaviors, particularly in dissatisfied relationships.
Conclusions:
- Attachment working models significantly shape social construal processes in romantic relationships.
- Anxious and avoidant attachment styles have distinct, yet impactful, effects on relationship perceptions.
- Interventions targeting attributional biases may benefit individuals with insecure attachment styles.
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