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Relationship between general and context-specific attachment orientations in a Turkish sample
Selen Imamoğlu1, E Olcay Imamoğlu
1Faculty of Communication, Bahçeşehir University, Beşiktaş, Istanbul, Turkey.
The Journal of Social Psychology
|June 21, 2006
Summary
Attachment styles show both consistent general tendencies and context-specific variations across family, peer, and romantic relationships. This suggests attachment orientations are both trait-like and adaptable to different relational contexts.
Area of Science:
- Psychology
- Social Psychology
- Attachment Theory
Background:
- Attachment theory posits that early relationships shape adult attachment styles.
- Understanding attachment orientations in various contexts is crucial for relationship research.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the relationship between general and context-specific attachment orientations.
- To examine attachment styles across family, peer, and romantic relationships in a Turkish sample.
Main Methods:
- Utilized the Turkish version of the Relationship Questionnaire (RQ).
- Assessed general and context-specific attachment orientations using Likert-type scales.
- Surveyed 110 Turkish university students on their attachment in different relationships.
Main Results:
- Attachment orientations were generally consistent across different relationship contexts, supporting a trait-like view.
- Participants reported varying levels of security depending on the relationship context (e.g., family vs. romantic), supporting context-specific tendencies.
- Results indicated the coexistence of general and context-specific attachment orientations.
Conclusions:
- Attachment orientations manifest as both stable, general traits and context-dependent tendencies.
- The findings support the cross-cultural validity of attachment orientation conceptualizations.
- Attachment styles influence how individuals perceive security in diverse interpersonal relationships.
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