Attachment Theory Perspective Research Articles

Place attachment theory and virtual reality: the case of a rural tourism destination

Purpose The purpose of this study is to explore from a place attachment (PA) theory perspective the extent to which and how, a fully immersive virtual reality (VR) experience enhances tourists’ attachment level on-site at a rural destination. Design/methodology/approach This study applied an exploratory mixed method approach. Respondents were tourists visiting the Lake District National Park who were asked to try a VR experience. In Study 1, interviews were conducted to explore new themes and to develop an enhanced PA framework in VR. Study 1 confirmed existing variables from the literature and highlighted new variables (themes) to be included in the new framework on how PA is formed. In Study 2, surveys were conducted, and the proposed framework analyzed using structural equation modelling (PLS-SEM). To fully understand how VR had an impact on enhancing PA, the moderating effect of tourists’ pre-existing PA was considered. Findings The findings revealed “Accessibility”, “Memories” and “Increased Place Knowledge” as new themes (variables) and confirmed that these and established variables “Aesthetics” and “Presence” enhance PA, leading to increased loyalty. Significant moderating effects of existing PA were found. Practical implications VR serves as a complementary and substitutional tool for tourism. Tailored VR experiences for diverse tourist needs may enhance destination marketing and competitiveness. For tourists with low PA, destinations should focus on promoting activities and highlights to enhance engagement and the experiential understanding of the destination. For tourists with high PA, VR experiences should focus on providing a comprehensive view of the destination and unveiling new places. In both cases, the VR experience leads to deeper engagement with the destination and an increase in PA. Originality/value Research on the impact of VR on tourists’ PA is limited. To address this gap, this study’s theoretical contribution lies in developing and testing a PA framework within a VR and tourism context. This also includes the validation of new measurement items developed in relation to the new themes.

An attachment theory perspective of professional service providers' social bonds with their clients

Social bonds developed by professional service providers have received limited research attention. Yet how individuals in these roles build social bonds with their clients can have a significant impact on the business outcomes achieved by the professional services firm. Attachment theory is one of the most influential psychology theories which supports the development of affectionate bonds but has not, so far, been applied to professional service providers' social bonds with their clients. We conduct in-depth interviews with professional service providers to capture their experiences of developing social bonds. Our findings identify three distinct relationship roles adopted by professional service providers with their clients (manager, caregiver and partner) and uncover two social bonds: the closeness bond and the security bond, based on different characteristics. We find that relationship roles and social bonds are inter-related and that social bonds can develop authentically or be developed strategically by the professional services provider. We propose how professional services firms can benefit from this knowledge in improving their business outcomes.

How does sports e-commerce influence consumer behavior through short video live broadcast platforms? Attachment theory perspective

PurposeBased on the “S-O-R” and attachment theories, this paper constructs a research model of the platform attribute factors of sports short video live e-commerce on consumers' psychological conditions, and explores how platform attributes affect consumer behavior through consumer attachment.Design/methodology/approachThe study carried out questionnaire survey through the “snowball” method, and a total of 422 valid questionnaires were collected. The paper uses SPSS 26.0 and AMOS 26.0 to adapt the data and model, and adopts the method of structural equation modeling for analysis.FindingsThe research results show that the interactivity, identity, personalization and entertainment of live sports e-commerce platforms can actively stimulate consumer attachment, and directly drive their consumption behavior through their attachment.Practical implicationsExamining the platform attributes and system functions of short video live broadcast e-commerce from the perspective of consumer attachment can help sports e-commerce understand consumers' needs and satisfaction with the functions provided by the platform. Through timely optimization and improvement of system functions, the platform will make the connection between consumers and e-commerce closer, thereby increasing consumer stickiness and promoting the vigorous development of sports e-commerce.Originality/valueThis study identified and defined the platform attributes contained in the sports live broadcast e-commerce platform, combined the S-O-R model with the attachment theory, expanded the analytical framework of the S-O-R theory and made contributions to the extension of the attachment theory.

The influence of home-school cooperative education on Chinese learning in the era of “Internet +” -- from the perspective of attachment theory

The influence of home-school cooperative education on Chinese learning in the era of “Internet +” -- from the perspective of attachment theory

“My mother must have been other than woman”1: Matrophobia in Audre Lorde’s Zami: A New Spelling of My Name

The mother-daughter dyad is far from simple. Adrienne Rich examines it within the parameters of matrophobia, which is not fearing the mother but fearing to become like her. In Zami: A New Spelling of My Name, Audre Lorde fluctuates between the urge to identify with her mother and the desire to break free. This essay examines Lorde’s ambivalent bond with her mother from the perspective of pre-Oedipal attachment theory and matrophobia.

New Content Formats in Digital Communications

The emergence of new media channels goes hand in hand with the advent of new content formats and their subsequent rise in popularity. The digital era brings forth numerous new formats, with short video content currently emerging as the winner in terms of interaction, popularity, and return on investment (ROI) for content creators. This analysis examines a combination of psychological, lifestyle, and practical factors to explain why online users find this type of content so appealing and why the number of content creators joining this trend is increasing in the coming years. Social media with short video formats is studied from the perspectives of attachment theory and the socio-technical approach, which are useful in revealing the psychological motivators for online users actively seeking this type of content. Scientific literature about subjective feelings of engagement provides guidance on the fragmented workday and the usefulness of short-format content to fill small breaks in a busy day. From a practical standpoint, considering recent statistics on mobile usage, short-format content, especially vertical video, is faster, easier, and cheaper to create. At the same time, it is highly appealing, easy to distribute, and convenient to consume on smartphones without rotating the screen.

A dyadic examination of patients' and caregivers' attachment orientations and mutually supportive care in cancer caregiving.

Families play a pivotal role in supporting one another during cancer. Research suggests that supportive care interactions between patients and their caregivers can have a positive effect on the physical health and well-being of both members of the dyad. However, few studies have investigated how patient and caregiver personality characteristics intersect with their perceptions of supportive exchanges. Adopting an attachment theory perspective, our aim was to examine the dyadic effects of patient and caregiver attachment orientations on mutually supportive care. Patients (n=103) receiving cancer care and their caregivers (n=99) completed a survey that comprised measures of attachment orientations (Experiences in Close Relationships Modified scale), and mutually supportive care (Shared Care Inventory, SCI-3): communication, decision-making and reciprocity. Actor-Partner Interdependence Models (APIMs) were used to examine the association between participants' attachment orientations on their own (actor effects) SCI-3 outcomes and those of the other person within the dyad (partner effects). Across the APIMs, the tendency was for an inverse relationship between attachment (anxious and avoidant orientations) and mutually supportive care. Inspection of the effects and dyadic patterns supported actor and couple models. Using a dyadic approach, it was possible to study both intrapersonal and interpersonal effects. Our findings point to interdependence within the cancer caregiving relationship and underscore the importance of considering how individual and relational ways of responding influence support. Attachment theory provides a framework for explaining the observed relationships and a basis for therapeutic intervention.

Social Anxiety from an Attachment Theory Perspective: The Mediating Role of Early Maladaptive Schema Domains and Rejection Sensitivity

Social anxiety is a common problem. Several factors play a role in the development and maintenance of social anxiety. Since relationship with parents is specifically an important factor, it is important to examine social anxiety from an attachment theory perspective. Studies indicate that early maladaptive schemas and rejection sensitivity may play a role in the relationship between attachment pattern and psychological distress. Therefore, the aim of the present study is to examine the mediating role of early maladaptive schema domains and rejection sensitivity in the relationship between internal working models of attachment and social anxiety. The sample of the study consisted of 557 university students (199 male, 358 female) between the ages of 17-27 (M = 20.69, SD = 1.79). Liebowitz Social Anxiety Scale, Relationship Scales Questionnaire, Young Schema Questionnaire-Short Form 3, and Rejection Sensitivity Questionnaire were administered to the participants. Results of the mediation analysis with Bootstrapping showed that Impaired Autonomy schema domain and rejection sensitivity mediated the relationships between attachment self-model and social anxiety. Moreover, schema domains of Impaired Autonomy, Impaired Limits and Unrelenting Standards, and rejection sensitivity mediated the relationship between attachment other-model and social anxiety. The current study may contribute to the literature by providing an understanding of how the relationship between attachment and social anxiety may emerge. Clinicians aiming to increase clients’ functionality and quality of life should/could focus on their clinical practice on the above early maladaptive schema domains and rejection sensitivity.

Smartphone Attachment and Self-Regulation Mediate the Influence of Avoidant Attachment Style on Phubbing

This study examines the nature of phubbing (i.e., smartphone snubbing) within an attachment theory perspective to empirically demonstrate both direct and indirect associations between attachment avoidance, smartphone attachment, self-regulation, and phubbing within a sample of 440 young adults. The study provides empirical evidence indicating smartphone attachment and self-regulation mediate the relationship between avoidant attachment and phubbing. Six hypotheses are posited, and a confirmatory factor analysis (CFA) controlling for age, gender, and time spent per day on smartphones was performed to test the hypothesized relationships. The CFA model was confirmed, and all six hypotheses were supported revealing the joint-mediated effect of smartphone attachment and self-regulation on the relationship between avoidant attachment style and phubbing.

依恋理论视角下青少年网络欺凌受害对心理健康的影响研究

本研究从依恋理论的视角出发,探讨青少年网络欺凌受害的频率对青少年心理健康问题的影响。研究采用多阶段集群抽样方法,在中国东部省份收集了751名中学生的代表性样本。数据分析发现,青少年网络欺凌受害频率与青少年心理健康的关系会因父母依恋和同伴依恋程度的不同而有所差异,父母依恋和同伴依恋在青少年群体遭受网络欺凌的频率与心理健康问题之间具备显著的调节作用。与父母依恋相比,在遭受更高频率的网络欺凌时,同伴依恋对青少年群体心理健康问题起到更强的保护作用。

父亲参与教养对幼儿社会性发展的影响与实践路径——以依恋理论为视角

父亲参与教养对幼儿社会性发展的影响与实践路径——以依恋理论为视角

Effects of Mobile Identity on Smartphone Symbolic Use: An Attachment Theory Perspective.

Smartphones are not only multifunctional tools but also users' personal extensions and identity symbols, as they are constantly with users and highly visible to the public while in use. Due to this public property as well as the close bond between smartphones and users, they are frequently used for personal identity expression besides functional purposes. The current study conceptualizes such behavior as symbolic use and aims to understand it. Anchoring on the attachment theory, mobile identity is postulated as an important antecedent of symbolic use. Mobile identity in turn is formed by mobile symbolism and mobile design esthetics. The research model was tested by a hybrid of both online and offline survey with 271 valid responses. SEM analysis was used to test the research model and SPSS was used for descriptive statistics. The results confirmed the role of mobile identity in affecting smartphone symbolic use. Additionally, individual materialism was confirmed as a moderator using hierarchical analysis. By defining and explaining smartphone symbolic use, this study clarifies the unique characteristics of the smartphone usage context as compared to non-portable technologies, thereby enriching the mobile usage literature and the application of attachment theory. It also defines the boundary condition of attachment formation by studying the contingent role of individual characteristics.

Subscription commerce: an attachment theory perspective

ABSTRACT Despite the success of subscription models in online retail, insights addressing their very relational character remain limited. This research employs interpersonal relationship theory and examines the role of attachment theory in explaining consumer adoption of subscription-based online services on a general as well as on a brand level. Specifically, we propose two conceptual models linking different attachment constructs to the adoption of subscriptions for tangible consumer goods. To address general subscription adoption, we investigate the influence of secure personal and consumer attachment to an unspecified hypothetical online subscription offer from a retailer where consumers frequently buy. We show that secure personal attachment, via the more relation-specific consumer attachment, affects attitude towards adoption of an online retailer’s subscription service. Attitudes towards adoption are further influenced by utilitarian and hedonic motivations. To address adoption on the brand level, we expose participants to a specific hypothetical FMCG subscription offer from a brand that consumers frequently buy. We identify an influence of satisfaction on brand attachment which in turn influences consumers’ attitude towards adoption. This work advances theory on subscription adoption and is the first to explain it from an attachment theory perspective. In doing so, it holds important theoretical and managerial implications. On a general level, we recommend online retailers offering subscriptions to identify securely personal attached consumer segments, as they are prone to form social bonds. These consumers score high on secure consumer attachment and, thus, are more prone to adopt subscription offers. On the brand level, we identify brand satisfaction as a critical driver for brand attachment. We find that customers that are highly satisfied with and attached to a brand are likely to adopt a subscription offering. Therefore, we encourage managers to create brands that people adore (as indicated by brand attachment) and foster satisfaction to successfully offer subscriptions.

Experience of Childhood Bereavement and Current Attachment Style

Purpose: Previous research supports the idea that attachment style is closely associated to experience of bereavement, but the research investigating current attachment style and childhood experience of bereavement is lacking. This study aims to explore how experience of bereavement in childhood relates to current attachment style in adulthood and to utilize attachment theory in understanding the experience of bereavement during childhood. 
 Methodology: Mixed method design was used to address the research objectives. This study was based on qualitative interview and a quantitative questionnaire. Twenty-four students from University of Bedfordshire were employed through purposive sampling to conduct semi-structured interviews. Experience in Close Relationships (ECR) questionnaire was used for quantitative assessment.
 Findings: The results of thematic analysis showed people with various attachment styles offered various accounts of their bereavement experience as children. This study offered proof that this was the case.
 Recommendations: It is suggested that this research can help us understand how children experience bereavement by illustrating how attachment theory might be used. This study may aid mental health practitioners in identifying some practical methods for assisting grieving individuals. The parent-child attachment bond approach among bereaved families may involve the appropriate bereavement counsellors and professionals. Bereavement experience during childhood links to adulthood attachment style. This study will contribute in developing the understanding of bereavement in children with attachment theory perspective.

Individuals' favorite songs' lyrics reflect their attachment style

AbstractRecent studies suggest that one's personality relates to their music preferences. Separately, research from an attachment theory perspective has demonstrated that attachment security and insecurity are important relationship‐related individual differences. We combined these two lines of inquiry here by investigating whether the lyrics of individuals' favorite songs about relationships reflect their attachment styles and related Big Five personality traits (Study 1; NParticipants = 469, NSongs = 4853). Individuals higher in attachment avoidance preferred relationship songs with lyrics expressing an avoidant attachment style, whereas individuals higher in neuroticism preferred relationship songs with lyrics expressing more attachment anxiety. We extended these results in a second study, finding that the lyrics of Western culture's 823 most popular songs from 1946 to 2015 mirrored societal trends of increasing social disengagement (i.e., were increasingly higher in attachment avoidance themes), suggesting that song lyrics impart psychological meaning at the sociocultural level as well. Our data therefore suggests that higher levels of attachment avoidance are reflected in preferred lyrics in relationship songs at both an individual and societal level.

"Transformed by the family: An episodic, attachment theory perspective on family-work enrichment and transformational leadership." Correction to McClean et al. (2021).

Reports an error in "Transformed by the family: An episodic, attachment theory perspective on family-work enrichment and transformational leadership" by Shawn T. McClean, Junhyok Yim, Stephen H. Courtright and Benjamin B. Dunford (Journal of Applied Psychology, 2021[Dec], Vol 106[12], 1848-1866). In the article (https://doi.org/10.1037/apl0000869), Figure 3 incorrectly graphically depicted the interaction pattern between daily family-work enrichment and attachment anxiety for Study 1. Although the slope values presented in the original figure were correct, the graphical depiction of this interaction incorrectly replicated that of Figure 2. The online version of this article has been corrected. (The following abstract of the original article appeared in record 2021-19222-001.) While transformational leadership is foundational to individual, team, and organizational success, many managers struggle to consistently exhibit the behaviors captured in transformational leadership. Unfortunately, relatively little is known about what factors explain this day-to-day variation on transformational leadership. Drawing upon and extending attachment theory, we assert that one answer is found at home: managers need daily family support to ensure that they consistently display transformational leader behaviors at work. We thus develop a model suggesting that family-work enrichment (FWE) acts as a within-person prime of promotion focus, which in turn enables supervisors to engage in transformational behaviors on a daily basis. In so doing, we explore a pair of theoretically derived boundary conditions of this effect-supervisor attachment styles. The results from two experience-sampling studies support our model. Specifically, daily FWE was positively associated with transformational leadership through daily promotion focus, with the positive effects being weaker for those higher on attachment avoidance and stronger for those higher on attachment anxiety. This article thus expands our understanding of the link between positive family experiences and leader behaviors, suggesting that while the family is a daily source of positive inspiration for supervisors, these positive results are not universal across all supervisors. (PsycInfo Database Record (c) 2022 APA, all rights reserved).

Place attachment: developing measurement scale based on three destinations

ABSTRACT While destinations are increasingly tried to attract tourists, changing times call for developing a measurement scale for place attachment. In this regard, the current study adopts a secure attachment theory perspective and develops a robust formative measurement scale for place attachment composed of place identity and dependence, cultural bonding, climate and nature, personal relationships and safety and security. Two domestic destinations (Kerala and Tamil Nadu) in the country (India) and one international destination (the Middle East) were employed to validate the factor structure of place attachment. Using online survey, the study obtained the perceptual responses and were analysed using ADANCO 2.2. Findings suggest place attachment as a higher-order formative construct that significantly enhances willingness to recommend and revisit intentions.

Childhood Maltreatment Affects Mobile Phone Addiction from the Perspective of Attachment Theory

Childhood Maltreatment Affects Mobile Phone Addiction from the Perspective of Attachment Theory

The Higher the Life Satisfaction, the Better the Psychological Capital? Life Satisfaction and Psychological Capital: A Moderated Mediation Model.

This study investigates the mediator role of attachment avoidance and the moderator role of rejection sensitivity on the links between life satisfaction and psychological capital (PsyCap). This study uses the Experiences in Close Relationship Scale, Rejection Sensitive Scale, Positive Psychological Capital Scale, and Life Satisfaction Scale among 999 Chinese young adults as subjects. The results presented that life satisfaction had a significant positive predictive effect on PsyCap. Mediation analysis of this study shows that attachment avoidance mediated the association between life satisfaction and PsyCap. Furthermore, moderated mediation analysis indicated that rejection sensitivity moderates the link between life satisfaction and attachment avoidance (first-stage moderation). Compared with individuals with low rejection sensitivity, individuals with high rejection sensitivity show more attachment avoidance under low life satisfaction. This study helps understand the relationship between life satisfaction and PsyCap from the perspective of rejection sensitivity theory and attachment theory and has implications for guiding college students toward strengthening PsyCap and weakening rejection sensitivity.

Followers' problematic engagement with influencers on social media: An attachment theory perspective

Following social media influencers is a common activity for social media users. As influencers endeavour to engage followers and increase their power of influence for commercial value, it can result in potential negative consequences to followers' wellbeing. This research explored how social media influencing may cause problematic engagement with influencers. To do so, we drew from attachment theory and used mixed methods, including a Delphi study and a survey with 500 Instagram users. Results suggested that influencer characteristics such as physical attractiveness, social attractiveness, and self-presence, as well as followers' participation comprehensiveness can foster followers' problematic engagement through the mediation of bond- and identity-based attachment (i.e., parasocial relationship and sense of belonging). Importantly, following more influencers weakened the effect of sense of belonging on problematic engagement, but not that of parasocial relationship. Overall, this study sheds light on negative aspects of social media influencing and provides useful insights to gauge social media influencers’ engagement tactics for a healthy follower behaviour and influencer outcomes.