Related Experiment Video
Updated: Feb 12, 2026
08:04
Assembling Molecular Shuttles Powered by Reversibly Attached Kinesins
Published on: January 26, 2019
7.3K
Attachment insecurity and power regulation in intimate relationships
1University of Auckland, New Zealand.
Current Opinion in Psychology
|March 27, 2018
Summary
Attachment insecurity influences how individuals manage power and dependence in relationships. This study integrates power dynamics and attachment theory to explain relationship negotiation strategies and partner interactions.
Area of Science:
- Psychology
- Social Psychology
- Relationship Science
Background:
- Attachment insecurity is linked to power and dependence regulation in adult relationships.
- Understanding these dynamics is crucial for relationship success.
Purpose of the Study:
- To apply an integrated power and attachment perspective to adult relationships.
- To explore how individuals negotiate dependence and power.
- To advance understanding of attachment avoidance and anxiety in relation to power.
Main Methods:
- Theoretical integration of power and attachment perspectives.
- Analysis of how power concerns influence attachment strategies.
- Examination of partner responses to power regulation attempts.
Main Results:
- Power is integral to the goals of attachment avoidance and anxiety.
- Attachment-activating situations involve power-related concerns.
- Avoidance and anxiety represent distinct strategies for regulating dependence and control.
- Partners engage in reciprocal power regulation.
Conclusions:
- The integrated model offers new insights into power and attachment dynamics.
- Understanding power regulation is key to understanding attachment strategies.
- This framework enhances comprehension of adult relationship negotiations.
Related Concept Videos
01:28Relationship with Parents: Attachment
271
Parent-child interactions lay the foundation for how we understand relationships throughout life. These interactions are not uniform across families; instead, they are shaped by a range of environmental, emotional, and behavioral factors unique to each caregiver-child dynamic. Social psychologists study these early relationships to understand how patterns formed in infancy influence social functioning and interpersonal behavior in adulthood.Attachment Theory and Early Relational ModelsJohn...
271
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
02:12Relationship Formation
46.3K
What do you think is the single most influential factor in determining with whom you become friends and whom you form romantic relationships? You might be surprised to learn that the answer is simple: the people with whom you have the most contact. This most important factor is proximity. You are more likely to be friends with people you have regular contact with. For example, there are decades of research that shows that you are more likely to become friends with people who live in your dorm,...
46.3K
01:20Attachment
559
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...
559
01:28Ending Relationships
205
The dissolution of intimate relationships presents complex emotional and psychological challenges, particularly when emotional bonds are strong, the relationship is long-standing, and perceived alternatives are limited. This distress often intensifies in romantic breakups, where the initiator may experience greater turmoil than the rejected partner. Contributing factors include residual attachment, guilt over causing pain, and uncertainty about how to manage the situation. The stress is further...
205
01:24Attachment Styles
468
Jeffrey Simpson's attachment theory suggests that early caregiver relationships shape lasting patterns of behavior and emotional regulation, known as attachment styles. These patterns are organized along two key dimensions: self-esteem and interpersonal trust. The intersection of these dimensions produces four primary attachment styles that typically persist throughout life and significantly influence how individuals form and maintain relationships.Secure Attachment StyleIndividuals with a...
468