Relationship between Positive Emotions, Adult Attachment Style and Life Satisfaction among Adults

Abstract

Fredrickson and Branigan (2005) define emotions as short lived experiences that produce changes in physiology, thoughts, and behaviours. In the academic literature, the term positive emotions is included within the broad term positive affect which also includes longer lasting positive moods (Diener, 2000). Positive emotions are more than the absence of negative emotions. For example, feeling happy or excited is more than not feeling sad or bored.Evidence suggests that people who experience frequent positive emotions tend to be successful and proficient across many spheres of life. This means that happiness is linked to successful outcomes. This is not merely because success leads to happiness, but because positive affect bring about success. Positive moods and emotions lead people to think, feel, and act in ways that promote both resource building and involvement with approach goals. This is explained by the broaden-and-build theory of positive emotions (Fredrickson, 1998; 2001). The theory suggests that positive emotions (viz. enjoyment, happiness, joy, pride, interest) broaden one's awareness and encourage new, diverse, and exploratory thoughts and actions. Over time, these novel experiences collectively build up consequential resources and skills that can change people's lives. For example, idle curiosity can become expert knowledge, or affection and shared amusement can become a lifelong supportive relationship.Positive emotions influence a number of positive outcomes in life. People who experience and express positive emotions more often are likely to be satisfied with their lives and have more fulfilling interpersonal relationships. They are more satisfied at their job, are helpful to other people, and are more likely to reach desired goals in life. (Diener, Suh, Lucas, &Smith, 1999).Positive emotions and subjective well-being are closely linked. Positive emotions are believed to be powerful indicators of wellbeing (Fredrickson, 2009). Frequently experiencing positive affect is proposed to be one of the three components of subjective well-being (along with infrequent experience of negative affect and feeling satisfied with life) which is considered an important outcome in psychological research (Diener, 2000).Attachment is basically the strong emotional bonds that are formed between an individual and his/her significant others (Green & Scholes, 2004). These bonds develop from the fundamental bond that a child forms with his/her first and primary caregiver (Broberg, Mothander, Granqvist, & Ivarsson, 2008) and remain relatively stable throughout adulthood (Shaver & Brennan, 1992).Bartholomew and Horowitz (1991) propose four different adult attachment styles based on individual's level of avoidance and anxiety. The first style, includes individuals who have a sense of worthiness as well as a perception of others being responsive and accepting. Secure individuals experience low anxiety and low avoidance. The remaining three styles, learful-avoidant, and dismissive avoidant, are insecure styles of attachment. The first insecure style, includes individuals who show low avoidance and high anxiety and view themselves as being unworthy of love. The fearful-avoidant style include individuals who feel unworthy and have distrust in intimacy. They experience high anxiety and avoidance and feel that by avoiding intimacy with others, they are protected from the rejection they expect in close relationships. Finally, the dismissive-avoidant style includes individuals who protect themselves against disappointment by avoiding close relationships.In short, adults low on both anxiety and avoidance as described as secure, adults high on attachment anxiety but low on avoidance as preoccupied, those high on avoidance but low on anxiety as dismissive, and those high on both anxiety and avoidance as fearful.Life satisfaction is the person's evaluation of his or her life as a whole. …