Attachment Theory Research Articles

Manipulating self and other schemas to explore psychological processes associated with paranoid beliefs: an online experimental study

BackgroundInformation about the self and others is organized in cognitive-affective structures that influence and guide interpersonal behavior. These structures are referred to as relational schemas and are thought to be influenced by early interpersonal experiences with significant others leading to secure or insecure attachment patterns as adults. When insecure, these patterns appear to contribute to paranoid interpretations about the intentions of others by indirect pathways such as negative self-esteem and a bias toward untrustworthiness. Experimental studies employing classical conditioning (CC) interventions have been successful in manipulating these schemas, finding significant effects on various psychological outcomes such as attachment styles, implicit self-esteem, and paranoid beliefs. However, no study to date has explored these effects on trustworthiness judgments.ObjectiveThis study aims to replicate the findings from previous experiments and also testing the effect of manipulating relational schemas on trustworthiness evaluations.MethodsA convenience online sample of 266 participants completed a series of tasks and questionnaires measuring attachment styles, explicit and implicit self-esteem, paranoia, and trustworthiness evaluations before and after a brief CC intervention, which involved being randomly allocated to three conditions. In each of these conditions, information about the self was always paired with either positive face stimuli (proximity-seeking condition), negative face stimuli (self-threat condition), or neutral face stimuli (control condition).ResultsThis study failed to replicate findings as previously reported in published experiments (i.e., self-esteem, paranoia), only finding a significant effect on attachment styles on the proximity-seeking CC condition. Moreover, no effect was found regarding trustworthiness judgments.DiscussionLimitations such as the online nature of the study and methodological aspects are discussed.

Primed into security: can attachment security priming affect attachment-related biases on early attention?

ABSTRACT Attachment avoidance is associated with deactivation of the attachment system when distressed, and disengagement from distressing information to maintain felt security. This study investigated how experimentally induced priming to enhance felt security might influence avoidant strategies at an attentional level. In a randomized, mixed design (N=104), we assessed attentional vigilance/disengagement towards contemptuous/neutral facial expressions using a variation of the dot-probe task, considering priming and attachment avoidance and anxiety. Attachment avoidance predicted attentional disengagement from the facial stimuli, particularly in individuals with low anxiety. By contrast, attachment anxiety predicted attentional vigilance regardless of level of avoidance. Task performance improved pre- to post-priming, driven by the neutral priming condition, suggesting that emotionally charged memories in security priming may deplete attentional resources. Priming did not affect highly avoidant individuals, suggesting they may disengage early from the task and remain unaffected by it. Findings highlight the complex interplay between attachment styles and attentional processes.

Tracing relevance beyond codes and across modes

Abstract Drawing on Relevance Theory, the paper sketches out a framework that accounts for inference-making in creative multimodal texts, taking advocacy campaign posters as its case study. The analysis shows that in each poster semiotic resources are employed to create a micro-narrative exemplifying actors affected by a sociopolitical problem, whose function is to create assumptions against which a higher-order intention is recognized. The text-internal relevance within the micro-narrative is optimized by combining verbal and visual elements to communicate multimodal explicatures and implicatures. The visual elements are employed to invoke non-propositional effects that activate perceptual mechanisms to maximize emotional attachment with the issue advocated for. These non-propositional effects communicated by visual connotation carriers are essential, rather than extra, elements, contributing to the understanding of the propositional meaning communicated at the text-external level. The analysis shows that an inferential approach to multimodality is indispensable to account for (non)propositional content across different modes.

Imagined Intimacy: The Link Between Attachment Styles and Parasocial Relationship of Senior High School Students

This present study was designed to investigate how different attachment styles influence individuals' susceptibility to parasocial experiences, focusing on senior high school students through questionnaires assessing secure, fearful, preoccupied, and dismissing attachment styles. 300 senior high school students, 11 and 12, participated in this study from the University in the Mindanao Region of the Philippines. The Kolmogorov-Smirnov test showed that the data were normally distributed (D =.035, p-value =.200). The levels of both variables were described using means and standard deviations. The study found low levels of Secure Attachment Style among students (X=2.23, SD=.337), indicating difficulties in emotional connections. A high level of Fearful Attachment Style was linked to anxiety and avoidance (X=3.56, SD= .419), while Preoccupied Attachment Style (X=3.86, SD=.389), and a high level of Dismissing Attachment Style (X=3.70, SD=.409). High levels of parasocial relationships were noted (X=3.54, SD= .51). Parasocial relationships and Secure Attachment Style had a weakly negative link (r = -.143, p =.013). Conversely, there were extremely minor positive connections between dismissing attachment styles (r =.095, p =.002) and preoccupied attachment styles (r =.002, p = 0.023). There was no significant link with Fearful Attachment Style (r = -0.025, p = 0.661). All things considered, our results point to a somewhat favourable correlation between parasocial relationships and attachment type (r = 0.494, p = 0.05). According to linear regression, Secure Attachment Styles have a negative correlation (B = -.189, p =.009) with parasocial connections, while Dismissing Attachment Styles have a positive correlation (B =.117, p =.004).

The Impact of Family of Origin on Romantic Relationships: A Psychological Perspective

This review examines the influence of diverse family of origin factors on adult romantic relationships, concentrating on critical elements such as attachment styles, communication patterns, conflict resolution, family cohesion, family structure, and self-differentiation and self-regulation formed by early family experiences. Existing research reveals that early family dynamics significantly affect individuals' behaviours, beliefs, and satisfaction in romantic relationships during adulthood. The paper consolidates empirical findings from multiple studies, accentuating the role of secure and insecure attachment styles in determining romantic relationship satisfaction. It also investigates how family functions, specifically communication patterns, conflict management, and family cohesion, influence relationship outcomes. Additionally, the review highlights the degrees of self-differentiation and self-regulation influence the quality of intimate relationships. Psychological frameworks including attachment theory, family systems theory, and social learning theory offer the primary perspectives for comprehending these influences. The review also recognises critical deficiencies in the literature, including the requirement for more longitudinal studies and cross-cultural social class and gender comparisons. Overall, Individuals who grow up in nurturing, positive family environments with good parent-child interactions tend to have higher quality and more satisfying romantic relationships in adulthood. Studying on the impact of family of origin on romantic relationships can assist society in resolving family emotional conflicts and fostering harmony, it can likewise enrich the theoretical framework of family and emotional-related research in the academic field.

THE EFFECTIVENESS OF PERSONALIZED ADVERTISING ON CONSUMER ENGAGEMENT THROUGH EMOTIONAL ATTACHMENT ON SOCIAL MEDIA

This study aims to analyze the effectiveness of personalized advertising on consumer engagement through emotional attachment on social media. Personalized advertising is increasingly popular in this digital era because it can increase the relevance of messages delivered to consumers. In this context, emotional attachment plays an important role in building emotional attachment between consumers and brands, which in turn can increase consumer engagement to the advertisements displayed. The method used was a literature review, by collecting and analyzing various relevant literature, such as scientific journals, articles, books, and previous studies on personalized advertising, consumer engagement, and emotional attachment on social media. This study also discusses various findings from existing literature and identifies factors that influence the effectiveness of personalized advertising. The study results indicate that personalized advertising that is tailored to consumer preferences can strengthen emotional attachment and increase engagement levels. Therefore, companies need to use consumer data wisely to create a more personal and relevant advertising experience.

Factors associated with children’s attachment hierarchy in lesbian, gay, and heterosexual parent families through assisted reproduction

Abstract With few exceptions, previous studies of children’s identification and hierarchy of attachment figures have involved only children born to heterosexual parents through unassisted conception, recognizing mothers as the primary attachment figures. Further research into diverse families may help to disentangle parents’ attachment role from their gender, sexual orientation, and biological relatedness to children. The present study aimed at exploring whether differences in children’s choice of primary attachment figure could be explained by parents’ gender, biological status, attachment state of mind, reflective functioning, parenting quality, or by the child’s gender, across diverse family types. In total, 152 parents (i.e., 60 lesbian mothers through donor insemination, 50 gay fathers through surrogacy, 42 heterosexual parents through gamete donation) and their 76 school-aged children participated in the study. Children were interviewed about their choice of attachment figure in different situations. Parents completed questionnaires about parenting stress, parental rejection, parent–child relational efficacy, and parent positivity; and were administered the Adult Attachment Interview as a measure of their attachment state of mind and reflective functioning. Overall, no significant differences emerged between mothers and fathers or between biological and non-biological parents for children’s choice of primary attachment figure. However, fathers with higher RF were more likely to be identified as a primary attachment figure, and gay fathers who demonstrated less parental rejection were more likely to be chosen as a primary attachment figure. The findings provide important insights for social policies aimed at promoting preventive parenting interventions targeting the child–parent attachment bond in diverse families.

What Makes a Relationship Serious? Race, Religion, and Emotions in South Asian Muslim Immigrants’ Romantic Meaning-Making

Abstract How do sociologists operationalize “romance,” specifically the seriousness or casualness of the romantic relationships of the participants they study? How do research participants themselves understand and define romantic connections in everyday life? Using the case of 80 South Asian Muslim Canadian interviewees and how they used relationship labels like “casual” and “serious” when describing their romantic experiences, this article problematizes the concept of a romantic partnership and bridges sociological conversations about emotions, dating, marriage, and larger discussions about religion, race, gender, and immigration in high-demand religious cultures. Contrary to popular definitions of casual and serious relationships, rather than on sexual intimacy, my participants defined the casualness or seriousness of their relationship based on the marriageability of their partner. Their assessment of a partner’s marriageability rested on the partner’s social compatibility and/or their emotional attachment with the partner. Factors indicating marriageability included race/ethnicity, religion, and socioeconomic status that many participants perceived to be in tension with emotions. On the one hand, emotional connections brought people from different races and faiths together, motivating participants to overcome external hurdles from family and internal biases. On the other hand, people ended relationships with out-group partners despite being in loving relationships for years because they deemed them to be socially incompatible for marriage. However, emotions are hard to control. Sometimes, the relationship deemed to be the most socially compatible was unsuccessful because of a lack of emotional connection. Instead, the relationship with an out-group partner initially deemed incompatible ended up being emotionally significant and meaningful.

Effect of employee emotional competence on customer emotional attachment: the roles of service recovery satisfaction and service failure severity

PurposeThis study aims to enhance our understanding of employee emotional competence (EEC) in the context of service failure and recovery. Accordingly, the present study investigates the relationship between perceived EEC and customer emotional attachment (CEA) through the mediating role of service recovery satisfaction (RES). Furthermore, the study examines the moderating impact of service failure severity (SFS) on the relationship between perceived EEC and RES.Design/methodology/approachA self-administered online survey was carried out to collect data. Using a convenience sampling technique, 195 US consumers were recruited from Prolific Academic. To test the hypotheses, this study employed partial least squares structural equation modeling (PLS-SEM).FindingsAccording to the analysis, perceived EEC impacts CEA directly and indirectly via RES. Additionally, the study finds that consumers reported feeling more emotionally connected to the restaurant when they were satisfied with service recovery. Finally, the study identified that the connection between perceived EEC and RES increases with service failure severity.Practical implicationsThis study emphasizes enhancing EEC through organization-wide training to increase customer satisfaction and emotional attachment to the service organization. Furthermore, it underscores the need for comprehensive employee training to categorize service failure severity and formulate appropriate recovery strategies.Originality/valueThe authors believe this is the first RES study to examine perceived EEC’s effect on CEA. By combining the affect infusion and cognitive appraisal theories to examine recovery satisfaction, this study contributes to the existing body of research on service recovery by shedding light on the relationship between perceived EEC and CEA. Furthermore, the study offers preliminary findings indicating an increase in the impact of perceived EEC on RES during high failure severity (SFS).

Investigation of a Donor Primary School Student’s Perspective on the Concept of Family: a Narrative Study

Abstract The study focused on a family structure consisting of a donor child and his mother, which differs from the traditional family structure, aiming to reveal the donor child’s perspective on the concept of family. In this context, a narrative research design, one of the qualitative research methods, was used. To explore the child’s life through narratives, interviews were conducted with the donor child, his mother, and his primary school teacher. The study’s data were collected through semi-structured interviews and analyzed using narrative thematic analysis. Based on family theories such as “attachment theory, role theory, and network theory,” significant findings were obtained regarding a donor-conceived child’s perception of the concept of family as a combination of a secure attachment relationship and experiences in the social environment. It was generally concluded that the child’s relationships with people in the home, school, and social environments were positive. Additionally, the child demonstrated a positive approach toward concepts such as “family, father, and relatives” when he was with his securely attached mother. However, it was observed that he exhibited negative attitudes toward the absence of a father and other relatives in school and social environments where he was away from his securely attached mother. It is believed that this study will shed light on future research concerning the education and family life of donor-conceived children.

Analisis <i>Self-Adaptation</i> Pada Perguruan Tinggi Oleh Mahasiswa Baru

This study analyzes the self-adaptation process of college freshmen with the aim of understanding the factors that influence their adaptability. The transition from high school to college involves significant academic, social, and emotional challenges. The research method used is Systematic Literature Review (SLR), which identifies and synthesizes literature related to this topic. The results showed that freshmen adaptation includes academic, social, emotional, and institutional attachment aspects. Internal factors such as personality and motivation and external factors such as social support play an important role in the adaptation process. The findings emphasize the need for institutional support in helping freshmen face transitional challenges to improve their academic success and mental well-being.

Neruda through copper-coloured glasses: the role of place attachment in the embeddedness of Chilean entrepreneurship

ABSTRACT Despite scholarly interest in how emotional and instrumental place attachments motivate entrepreneurship, the influences on embeddedness remain underexplored. Building on the notion that entrepreneurship becomes embedded in a locality, we argue that this process is packed with place-based interpretations of the material and imagined reality. Engaging with the empirical setting of Chile, the world’s largest copper producer, we embark on a study examining the interactions between the place attachment, embeddedness and natural resource-based entrepreneurship. We uncover these interactions through analysing several works of poetry by Nobel laureate Pablo Neruda, which focus on the diverging place attachment styles between local and multinational agents. Through reflecting on the poems, we show how historical changes within the Chilean mining industry and broader societal changes are visible in Neruda’s imagery of place attachments, emotions and concerns for local conditions. We problematize embeddedness and entrepreneurship through illuminating the place attachments shaping local actors’ entrepreneurial imagination, thus contributing to knowledge about being embedded in natural resource-based entrepreneurship contexts. We provide new insights into how place attachment can evolve alongside different forms of embedded entrepreneurship.

Early life stress, kangaroo care, parenting behavior and secure attachment predict executive functioning in 2 year olds born preterm

Self-regulation and executive functioning are known key predictors of future cognitive development and mental health. We examined the effect of early life neonatal stress, maternal perinatal stress, kangaroo care, maternal parenting behavior and secure child attachment on executive function at 2 years corrected age (CA) in children born preterm (i.e. < 34 weeks of gestation and/or < 1500 g birth weight). Neonatal child characteristics were recorded at the Neonatal Intensive Care Unit (NICU). We examined self-reported perinatal maternal stress during NICU stay, maternal emotional availability at 4 months CA, and child attachment security at 14 months CA. The executive function battery at 2 years CA was completed by 97 children. Low birth weight, a high number of skin breaking procedures and high level of maternal stress predicted lower executive function scores. Kangaroo care, non-intrusive maternal parenting behavior and secure attachment were associated with higher executive function scores. Even after controlling for background factors, modifiable factors such as neonatal child and mother stress, kangaroo care, parenting style, and child attachment style uniquely predict later executive functioning development, indicating that preventive interventions need to integrate multiple aspects of neuroprotective care, including supporting the child-parent bond, both at the NICU and beyond.

Eksplorasi Pengalaman Konsumen terhadap Peran Online Customer Review dan Citra Merek terhadap Keputusan Pembelian Kosmetik pada Aplikasi Sociolla

The development of information technology and e-commerce has changed consumer behavior, especially in the cosmetics industry. Platforms like Sociolla are the main choice for consumers to buy cosmetic products online. This research explores the influence of online customer reviews and brand image on cosmetic purchasing decisions on the e-commerce platform. Customer reviews, both positive and negative, serve as an important reference that influences consumer perceptions of brand quality and credibility. On the other hand, a strong brand image can strengthen purchasing decisions by creating a sense of trust and emotional attachment. Using a qualitative approach, this research explores consumers' subjective experiences to understand the role of online reviews and brand image in purchasing decisions. The research findings are expected to provide deeper insight into the dynamics of consumer behavior in the Indonesian cosmetics e-commerce ecosystem.

Strategi Komunikasi Politik Digital Tri Andhianto dan Abdul Haris Bobihoe dalam Pilkada Bekasi 2024

The 2024 Simultaneous Regional Elections in Bekasi are an important momentum in the development of local democracy in Indonesia, marked by the support of a coalition of ten political parties for the candidate pair Tri Adhianto and Abdul Haris Bobihoe. This study uses a qualitative method with a desk review approach to analyze the communication and campaign strategies of the candidate pair. The results of the study show that this pair succeeded in utilizing social media effectively to reach voters, especially the younger generation. Relevant campaign messages, related to education, job creation, and community welfare, succeeded in building emotional attachment. Their campaign reflects political pragmatism at the local level, where support from various parties puts aside ideological differences in order to achieve electoral goals. Through social media, the candidate pair created two-way communication with the community and expanded their audience reach. This study concludes that adaptive and digital-based campaign strategies can increase public participation and trust in candidates, although challenges in maintaining transparency and accountability remain.

The Influence of Brand Trust on Brand Evangelism Through Brand Identification and Passion Among Apple Users

Purpose: This research examines the relationship between brand trust and brand evangelism among Apple product users, with a focus on brand identification and brand passion as mediators.Method: The study used a quantitative research design by survey method. Partial Least Squares Structural Equation Modeling (PLS-SEM) was used to analyze the data and assess the interrelationships between variables.Findings: The results indicate that brand trust does not correlate directly with brand evangelism, but is a significant predictor of both brand identification and brand passion. Moreover, brand trust is related to brand evangelism through positive mediation of brand passion but not for mediation of brand identification. The research highlights the importance of emotional attachment to becoming a consumer advocate.Novelty: The current study sheds light on the subtle pathways across which brand trust reinforces brand evangelism, as well as elucidates a new perspective on the comparative mediating role of brand passion vs. brand identification.Implications: The theoretical implications indicate that in the context of strong perfect information asymmetric power dynamics, brands (i.e., Apple) can implement strategies to create emotional engagement with consumers. Most importantly, trusting initiatives that boost brand passion can drive loyalty and advocacy, providing your most powerful pipeline of brand evangelists

Research on the Psychological Projection of Virtual Anchors and the Audience's Attachment Behaviour

This study investigates the psychological projections of viewers onto virtual anchors and their resulting attachment behaviors. With the increasing popularity of live-streaming platforms, virtual anchors have become prominent digital figures that interact with viewers in real time. This research investigates how emotional attachment to virtual entities is formed through psychological projection, which involves, attributing one's feelings or qualities to others. A quantitative approach was employed for data collection, involving a questionnaire administered to 121 respondents. The findings indicate that appearance, personality, and interaction frequency significantly influence audience attachment. Viewers tend to project desired traits onto virtual anchors and form emotional attachments that can be sustained through repeated interactions. Interestingly, even passive viewers who are less attached to the programs reported strong attachments, showing that projection and other factors contribute to forming this attachment. The study reveals that while emotional reliance on virtual anchors is present, it remains at a moderate level, with content style being an important factor for viewer dependency. These insights provide a deeper understanding of virtual relationships and offer valuable implications for virtual content design and development that add to the influences of digital media engagement

Accountability for Actions: The Role of Belief Formation

This paper explores the complex relationship between personal beliefs and actions and argues that individuals should be held responsible for their actions rather than their beliefs. It examines the role of education, access to information, and emotional attachments in shaping beliefs and discusses strategies to mitigate the influence of misinformation and emotional bias. The paper concludes that with proper education and critical thinking skills, individuals can make more informed decisions and be held accountable for their actions.

Does TikTok Addiction exist? A qualitative study.

Problematic TikTok Use (PTU) is a psychological condition marked by compulsive and excessive engagement with the app, often characterized by prolonged scrolling, content interaction, and seeking user feedback. This qualitative study, conducted from February to March 2024, explored factors driving TikTok addiction, its consequences, and strategies for mitigation. Data were collected through in-depth interviews and surveys with 56 participants (23 men, 33 women). Thematic analysis identified key addiction-related factors, including excessive time spent on the app, emotional attachment, and cognitive rumination over viewed content. Women demonstrated a higher likelihood of developing PTU, particularly when using TikTok for over six hours daily and displaying significant emotional and cognitive ties to its content. Despite its addictive potential, participants acknowledged positive aspects of TikTok, such as its capacity to disseminate cultural, educational, and artistic content. However, negative effects, including procrastination, attention deficits, and exposure to harmful content, were also noted. This study highlights the dual nature of TikTok's impact, emphasizing the need for balanced use and targeted interventions to reduce addiction while leveraging its positive features.

Development of a Model of Students' Subjective Well-Being Based on Attachment Styles, Self-Compassion, and Emotion Regulation Styles with the Mediating Role of Quality of Life

Development of a Model of Students' Subjective Well-Being Based on Attachment Styles, Self-Compassion, and Emotion Regulation Styles with the Mediating Role of Quality of Life