Adult attachment in relationships

Question 1

what are the 4 main attachment functions/features?

Answer 1

secure base, safe haven, proximity maintenance, separation anxiety

Question 2

what are the 3 parts of adult pair bond?

Answer 2

attachment, caregiving, sexuality

Question 3

define internal working models

Answer 3

mental representations/schemas of relationships that guide expectations and behaviour

Question 4

what is a self internal working model?

Answer 4

am i worthy of love and affection?

Question 5

what is an other internal working model?

Answer 5

will my caregiver be available and reliable?

Question 6

what dictates adult relationship style?

Answer 6

nature of experiences with primary caregivers + am i worthy of love and affection + will my caregiver be available and reliable?

Question 7

how stable are internal working models?

Answer 7

persist over time and applied to new people, but open to revision in light of significant experiences

Question 8

a negative other-model leads to what level of avoidance?

Answer 8

high

Question 9

a positive other-model leads to what level of avoidance?

Answer 9

low

Question 10

describe a high avoidance level

Answer 10

rejecting/neglectful care. no genetic component. suppresses emotions, self-reliance, defensive discomfort with intimacy

Question 11

a negative self-model leads to what level of anxiety?

Answer 11

high

Question 12

a positive self-model leads to what level of anxiety?

Answer 12

low

Question 13

describe a high anxiety level

Answer 13

inconsistent/overprotective care. 40% heritable. clingy, fear abandonment, difficulty regulating emotions

Question 14

negative self-model and negative other-model lead to what kind of attachment?

Answer 14

fearful avodiant

Question 15

negative self-model and positive other model lead to what kind of attachment?

Answer 15

preoccupied

Question 16

positive other-model and positive self-model lead what kind fo attachment?

Answer 16

secure

Question 17

positive self-model and negative other-model lead to what kind of attachment?

Answer 17

dismissing avoidant

Question 18

describe a study measuring attachment system activation in adulthood

Answer 18

Mikulincer, Gillath & Shaver (2002) lexical decision task. threat: faster RTs t attachment figure names

Question 19

describe the results for attachment anxiety in the Mikulincer, Gillath & Shaver (2002) study

Answer 19

faster RTs to attachment figure names in general (hyperactivation)

Question 20

describe the results for attachment avoidance in the Mikulincer, Gillath & Shaver (2002) study

Answer 20

slower RTs after ‘separation’ threat (deactivation)

Question 21

what are the two different parts of global/default models?

Answer 21

parents and peers

Question 22

what are the two different parts of peer models?

Answer 22

friends and romantic partners

Question 23

what are the two different parts of romantic partner models?

Answer 23

ex and partner

Question 24

what big 5 trait relates most to high anxiety (preoccupied or fearful avoidant type)?

Answer 24

neuroticism

Question 25

what big 5 trait relates most to a dismissing avoidant attachment style?

Answer 25

higher openness

Question 26

what big 5 trait relates most to a secure attachment style?

Answer 26

higher extraversion, conscientiousness and agreeableness

Question 27

what big 5 trait relates to low avoidance (preoccupied or secure)?

Answer 27

higher agreeableness

Question 28

with a secure attachment, how is affect regulated?

Answer 28

there is an inner resource for regulating affect. they can seek support when needed

Question 29

with an avoidant attachment, how is affect regulated?

Answer 29

suppresses emotional experience and expression (eg. Sadikaj et al, 2011). cope using interpersonal distance and self-reliance. self-esteem may depend on being independent

Question 30

with an anxious attachment, how is affect regulated?

Answer 30

experience and express emotions intensely (eg. Sadikaj et al., 2011). cope using interpersonal closeness and dependence. self-esteem unstable, may depend on approval/affection from others

Question 31

describe Sadikaj's 2011 study

Answer 31

attachment questionnaire (anxiety and avoidance scores). reported every social interaction >5 min for 20 days. how others behaved (agency + communion), positive and negative affect

Question 32

describe the results of Sadikaj's 2001 study

Answer 32

positive affect: no main effects of attachment. stronger in interactions with romantic partners. remind sig when the big 5 was controlled.

Question 33

what are some mental health issues that can come with an avoidant attachment type?

Answer 33

eating disorders (restrictive) and depression (over-reliance on self)

Question 34

what are some mental health issues that can come with an anxious attachment type?

Answer 34

anxiety disorders, eating disorders (bingeing), depression (over reliance on others), borderline personality disorder

Question 35

what are the effects of an avoidant attachment style in terms of romantic relationships?

Answer 35

less likely to get involved and less self disclosure and emotional expression. low support seeking, and less sensitive support given. less satisfied, committed and trusting. linked to ludus love style.

Question 36

describe Simpson, Rholes & Helligan's 1992 study

Answer 36

attachment questionnaire (anxiety and avoidance cscores). female participant taken to waiting room, joined by partner, left alone for 5 mins

Question 37

describe the results of Simpson, Rholes & Helligan's 1992 study

Answer 37

attachment anxiety was unrelated to support-seeking. as observed fear increases, secure women showed more support seeking, but more avoidant-women showed less support seeking

Question 38

what are the effects of an anxious attachment style in terms of romantic relationships?

Answer 38

commit quickly. compulsive (not sensitive) caregiving. interpret behaviour negatively. more jealousy and conflict due to chronic need for intimacy and excessive reassurance seeking. linked to mania love style

Question 39

is attachment theory evolutionarily adaptive?

Answer 39

insecure strategies develop to maximise protections and survival in infancy (Mikulincer & Shaver, 2007)

Question 40

is social defence theory evolutionarily adaptive?

Answer 40

adaptive for groups to include insecure as well as secure members to deal with threat. anxiety = faster threat detection. avoidance = faster action/

Question 41

how does anxious attachment style change with age?

Answer 41

decreases

Question 42

how does avoidant attachment style change?

Answer 42

lower when in a long-term relationship. causality?

Question 43

how do security levels change?

Answer 43

decrease after a break up but increase across the transition to motherhood

Question 44

what is the effect of security being primed subliminally?

Answer 44

activates secure base representations. reduces state insecurity, influence info processing - Mikulincer et al., 2001