The role of attachment in influencing reactions to manipulated feedback from romantic partners

Carnelley, Katherine B., Israel, Suzanne and Brennan, Kelly A. (2007) The role of attachment in influencing reactions to manipulated feedback from romantic partners. European Journal of Social Psychology, 37 (5), 968-986. (doi:10.1002/ejsp.409).

Record type: Article

Abstract

A study of 80 couples (mean age 24) examined the impact of attachment patterns on reactions to manipulated positive or negative feedback, ostensibly from partners. As expected, individuals high in attachment anxiety reported more negative mood and the least indifference to partner feedback. In addition, those high in attachment anxiety reported more negative reactions to negative feedback compared to those low in anxiety. Those high in attachment anxiety reported lower self-competence after receiving negative feedback than those low in anxiety. Further, reactions to manipulated feedback mediated the relationship between attachment anxiety and self-competence. Attachment models play a role in determining reactions to partner feedback and moderate how feedback is used to maintain self-views.

This record has no associated files available for download.