The University of Southampton
University of Southampton Institutional Repository

Priming attachment security improves attitudes towards a range of therapies

Priming attachment security improves attitudes towards a range of therapies
Priming attachment security improves attitudes towards a range of therapies
We sought to understand how attachment orientation influenced attitudes towards different types of psychological therapies. In 2 studies, we i) examined attachment orientation as a predictor of attitudes towards different therapies; and ii) tested whether attachment security priming could improve attitudes. Study 1 (n=339) found associations between attachment orientation and attitudes towards, and likelihood of using different therapies. Positive and negative attitudes about different therapies mediated the relationship between attachment avoidance and likelihood of use. Study 2 (n=412) showed that primed security (versus neutral-prime) improved attitudes towards relational, non-relational and distanced-relational therapies for those with a fearful-avoidant attachment orientation. For relational and distanced-relational therapies, the mechanism of this effect was increased cognitive openness. Attachment orientation is a determinant of therapy attitudes and anticipated help-seeking behaviour. Priming security may promote open-minded decision making about some therapies. Findings are discussed with relevance to attachment theory, research and clinical practice.
therapy attitudes, attachment, therapeutic relationship, security priming
0007-1269
15-39
Millings, Abigail
5012b00f-983f-4124-b1c3-dcbd6b78df94
Carnelley, Katherine
02a55020-a0bc-480e-a0ff-c8fe56ee9c36
Cavanagh, Kate
4347ebe3-f980-4efd-8c4b-e54f362f7d77
Wilderspin, Anna
af8b9a19-78e5-487e-a673-6f54958849a3
Wiseman, Hannah
8bbe10cb-b599-4134-bafe-7f256f80f2ca
Rowe, Angela
6ff67678-4c16-4a1a-ad78-fdc5b2486ae5
Millings, Abigail
5012b00f-983f-4124-b1c3-dcbd6b78df94
Carnelley, Katherine
02a55020-a0bc-480e-a0ff-c8fe56ee9c36
Cavanagh, Kate
4347ebe3-f980-4efd-8c4b-e54f362f7d77
Wilderspin, Anna
af8b9a19-78e5-487e-a673-6f54958849a3
Wiseman, Hannah
8bbe10cb-b599-4134-bafe-7f256f80f2ca
Rowe, Angela
6ff67678-4c16-4a1a-ad78-fdc5b2486ae5

Millings, Abigail, Carnelley, Katherine, Cavanagh, Kate, Wilderspin, Anna, Wiseman, Hannah and Rowe, Angela (2019) Priming attachment security improves attitudes towards a range of therapies. British Journal of Psychology, 110 (1), 15-39. (doi:10.1111/bjop.12334).

Record type: Article

Abstract

We sought to understand how attachment orientation influenced attitudes towards different types of psychological therapies. In 2 studies, we i) examined attachment orientation as a predictor of attitudes towards different therapies; and ii) tested whether attachment security priming could improve attitudes. Study 1 (n=339) found associations between attachment orientation and attitudes towards, and likelihood of using different therapies. Positive and negative attitudes about different therapies mediated the relationship between attachment avoidance and likelihood of use. Study 2 (n=412) showed that primed security (versus neutral-prime) improved attitudes towards relational, non-relational and distanced-relational therapies for those with a fearful-avoidant attachment orientation. For relational and distanced-relational therapies, the mechanism of this effect was increased cognitive openness. Attachment orientation is a determinant of therapy attitudes and anticipated help-seeking behaviour. Priming security may promote open-minded decision making about some therapies. Findings are discussed with relevance to attachment theory, research and clinical practice.

Text
Manuscript_BJP_1406118_resolved_corrected - Accepted Manuscript
Download (218kB)

More information

Accepted/In Press date: 19 June 2018
e-pub ahead of print date: 8 July 2018
Published date: 2019
Keywords: therapy attitudes, attachment, therapeutic relationship, security priming

Identifiers

Local EPrints ID: 422291
URI: http://eprints.soton.ac.uk/id/eprint/422291
ISSN: 0007-1269
PURE UUID: ce87ad8a-cf21-490f-8a30-16501b23a6e8
ORCID for Katherine Carnelley: ORCID iD orcid.org/0000-0003-4064-8576

Catalogue record

Date deposited: 20 Jul 2018 16:30
Last modified: 06 Jun 2024 04:21

Export record

Altmetrics

Contributors

Author: Abigail Millings
Author: Kate Cavanagh
Author: Anna Wilderspin
Author: Hannah Wiseman
Author: Angela Rowe

Download statistics

Downloads from ePrints over the past year. Other digital versions may also be available to download e.g. from the publisher's website.

View more statistics

Atom RSS 1.0 RSS 2.0

Contact ePrints Soton: eprints@soton.ac.uk

ePrints Soton supports OAI 2.0 with a base URL of http://eprints.soton.ac.uk/cgi/oai2

This repository has been built using EPrints software, developed at the University of Southampton, but available to everyone to use.

We use cookies to ensure that we give you the best experience on our website. If you continue without changing your settings, we will assume that you are happy to receive cookies on the University of Southampton website.

×