Attachment style and the cognitive representation of communication situations

Abstract

The purpose of this study is to examine differences in the way communication situations are perceived among those with different attachment styles. The study examined the complexity of Secure, Avoidant, and Anxious/ambivalent's cognitive representations of other people and found that those with secure attachment styles to be slightly higher in cognitive complexity, on average, than those with avoidant and anxious/ambivalent styles. Further, this study found differences among the attachment styles in the way people think about interpersonal interactions. Using both categorical and continuous measures of attachment style, this study found that those with more secure attachment beliefs think about themselves as more skilled in seeking the affinity of others and define communication situations as more rewarding and attractive. Those with avoidant and anxious/ambivalent attachment styles, on the other hand, were found to perceive interpersonal situations as less rewarding, less attractive, and less useful in gaining the approval of others.

Key words:

• cognitive complexity
• constructivism
• attachment theory
• affinity seeking
• unwillingness to communicate