Related Experiment Video
Updated: Feb 13, 2026
08:17
Reducing State Anxiety Using Working Memory Maintenance
Published on: July 19, 2017
8.2K
Attachment anxiety benefits from security priming: Evidence from working memory performance
1Department of Psychology, Kadir Has University, Istanbul, Turkey.
Plos One
|March 10, 2018
Summary
Attachment anxiety impacts working memory (WM) performance. Secure priming boosts WM in anxious individuals, while neutral priming impairs it, suggesting attachment security influences cognitive function.
Area of Science:
- Psychology
- Cognitive Neuroscience
Background:
- Attachment theory posits distinct dimensions: anxiety and avoidance.
- Attachment styles can influence cognitive processes, including working memory.
Purpose of the Study:
- To examine the predictive relationship between attachment dimensions (anxiety, avoidance) and working memory (WM) performance.
- To investigate the moderating effect of subliminal security priming on this relationship.
Main Methods:
- Participants completed the n-back task to assess WM capacity.
- Subliminal priming with secure attachment words or neutral words was employed.
- Structural equation modeling analyzed the data.
Main Results:
- Attachment anxiety predicted WM performance, with effects moderated by priming condition.
- In neutral priming, higher attachment anxiety correlated with lower WM capacity.
- Secure priming enhanced WM capacity in individuals with higher attachment anxiety.
- Attachment avoidance did not show significant effects across priming conditions.
Conclusions:
- Subliminal security priming can enhance working memory capacity in individuals with high attachment anxiety.
- Attachment anxiety's impact on WM is context-dependent, influenced by perceived security.
- Attachment avoidance appears less sensitive to security priming effects on WM.
Related Concept Videos
03:34Theory of Romantic Attachment in Adulthood
50.0K
Attachment is a long-standing connection or bond with others. While Attachment Theory was conceived in developmental psychology to describe infant-caregiver bonding, it's been extended into adulthood to include romantic relationships.
50.0K
02:55The Evidence for Evolution
48.4K
Genetic variations accumulating within populations over generations give rise to biological evolution. Evolutionary changes can result in the formation of novel varieties and entire new species. These changes are responsible for the diverse forms of life inhabiting the planet. The evidence for evolution suggests that all living organisms descended from common ancestors.
48.4K
01:20Attachment
564
Attachment is vital for infant development, as warm social interactions support growth and well-being. In a classic 1958 study by Harry Harlow, the significance of warmth and comfort in forming attachments was examined. Harlow separated newborn monkeys from their mothers and provided two artificial "mothers": one made of cold wire and the other covered in soft cloth. Despite the wire mother offering food, the infant monkeys preferred the comfort of the cloth mother, demonstrating that...
564
01:25Benefits of Self-Esteem
215
Self-esteem—an individual's overall evaluation of their worth—plays a complex role in psychological functioning and well-being. It is often associated with many positive traits, such as confidence, optimism, and perseverance. Individuals with high self-esteem typically experience better sleep, manage peer pressure more effectively, and report greater life satisfaction. Conversely, low self-esteem has been consistently linked with increased risks of depression, anxiety, and poor...
215
01:18Anxiety: Overview
1.1K
Anxiety is a common mental disorder featuring excessive worry, fear, and apprehension, significantly affecting daily life. People with anxiety disorders experience persistent and intense anxiety, interrupting their everyday functioning.
Individuals with anxiety often experience a range of physical and emotional symptoms, including sweating, trembling, tachycardia, and disturbances in sleep patterns. These symptoms vary in intensity and frequency but are generally disruptive and distressing.
Individuals with anxiety often experience a range of physical and emotional symptoms, including sweating, trembling, tachycardia, and disturbances in sleep patterns. These symptoms vary in intensity and frequency but are generally disruptive and distressing.
1.1K
01:30Generalized Anxiety Disorder
755
Generalized Anxiety Disorder (GAD) is a chronic condition characterized by excessive and uncontrollable worry that persists for at least six months, significantly interfering with daily functioning. Unlike situational anxiety, which arises in response to specific stressors, GAD often occurs without a clear cause. Individuals may experience disproportionate worry about work, health, or relationships. For instance, a person might continuously fear poor health despite normal medical evaluations or...
755