Adult attachment and the maintenance of self-views

Abstract

This thesis examined the novel proposal that for insecure individuals, regulation of self-esteem is contingent on fulfilment of affect-regulation goals.  Specifically, individuals with high attachment anxiety depend on interpersonal approval and affection, whereas those with high avoidance, although they defensively deny attachment needs, depend on validating their agency and self-reliance.

Four studies examined the influence of attachment patterns on self-esteem regulation.  Study 1 showed that for insecure compared to secure individuals, global self-esteem was more closely connected to specific interpersonal or agentic self-views.  Study 2 and 3 examined feedback-seeking patterns.  Secure individuals were more open to, and chose, positive over negative feedback.  High-anxious individuals pursued interpersonal feedback but chose negative feedback when it was offered.  Dismissing individuals (high avoidance, low anxiety) sought positive hypothetical feedback about self-reliance but negative feedback across all domains when it was offered.

Study 4 examined day-to-day self-esteem regulation using daily diaries.  High-anxious individuals exhibited the most fluctuation in self-esteem as a function of daily rejection and positive partner feedback, and reacted negatively to negative interpersonal feedback.  High-avoidant individuals did not self-enhance by taking on board positive competence feedback.  Instead, they exhibited the least boost to self-esteem after positive interpersonal feedback but lower self-esteem after daily rejection.

Overall, findings supported high-anxious individuals’ reliance on interpersonal sources for self-esteem regulation.  High-avoidant individuals’ reliance on agentic sources was inconsistently supported, but their vulnerability to acceptance and rejection implies incomplete defences.  These findings have implications for relationship functioning, work performance, and vulnerability to depression.  Attachment theory provides a valuable framework for understanding individual differences in self-esteem regulation.

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