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Research papers on Attachment theory in adult relationships

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  1. Romantic love conceptualized as an attachment process.

    Cindy Hazan, Phillip R. Shaver · 1987 · Journal of Personality and Social Psychology · 6,327 citations

    This article explores the possibility that romantic love is an attachment process--a biosocial process by which affectional bonds are formed between adult lovers, just as affectional bonds are formed earlier in life between human infants and their parents. Key components of attachment theory, developed by Bowlby, Ainsworth, and others to explain the development of affectional bonds in infancy, were translated into terms appropriate to adult romantic love. The translation centered on the three major styles of attachment in infancy--secure, avoidant, and anxious/ambivalent--and on the notion that continuity of relationship style is due in part to mental models (Bowlby's "inner working models")

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  2. Adult Romantic Attachment: Theoretical Developments, Emerging Controversies, and Unanswered Questions

    R. Chris Fraley, Phillip R. Shaver · 2000 · Review of General Psychology · 1,525 citations

    The authors review the theory of romantic, or pair-bond, attachment as it was originally formulated by C. Hazan and P. R. Shaver in 1987 and describe how it has evolved over more than a decade. In addition, they discuss 5 issues related to the theory that need further clarification: (a) the nature of attachment relationships, (b) the evolution and function of attachment in adulthood, (c) models of individual differences in attachment, (d) continuity and change in attachment security, and (e) the integration of attachment, sex, and caregiving. In discussing these issues, they provide leads for future research and outline a more complete theory of romantic attachment.

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  3. Attachment style as a predictor of adult romantic relationships.

    Judith A. Feeney, Patricia Noller · 1990 · Journal of Personality and Social Psychology · 1,190 citations

    Questionnaire measures of attachment style, attachment history, beliefs about relationships, self-esteem, limerence, loving, love addiction, and love styles were administered to 374 undergraduates. Attachment style was related in theoretically expected ways to attachment history and to beliefs about relationships. Securely attached Ss reported relatively positive perceptions of their early family relationships. Avoidant Ss were most likely to report childhood separation from their mother and to express mistrust of others. Anxious-ambivalent subjects were less likely than avoidant Ss to see their father as supportive, and they reported a lack of independence and a desire for deep commitment i

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  4. Attachment in adults: Clinical and developmental perspectives.

    Michael R. Sperling, William Berman · 1994 · Guilford Press eBooks · 859 citations

    R.S. Weiss, Foreword. Part I: Introduction. W.H. Berman, M.B. Sperling, The Structure and Function of Adult Attachment. Part II: Conceptual and Methodological Applications. J.C. Rothbard, P.R. Shaver, Continuity of Attachment Across the Life Span. D. Diamond, S.J. Blatt, Internal Working Models and the Representational World in Attachment and Psychoanalytic Theories. M. Reite, M.L. Boccia, Physiological Aspects of Adult Attachment. J.A. Feeney, P. Noller, M. Hanrahan, Assessing Adult Attachment. Part III: Life?Span Developmental Applications J. Batgos, B.J. Leadbeater, Parental Attachment, Peer Relationships, and Dysphoria in Adolescence. C.G. Hindy, J. Conrad Schwarz, Anxious Romantic Attac

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  5. Attachment formation and transfer in young adults’close friendships and romantic relationships

    R. Chris Fraley, Keith E. Davis · 1997 · Personal Relationships · 741 citations

    Abstract Two hundred thirty‐seven young adults from an American university completed a questionnaire designed to test several normative implications of attachment theory. As predicted, the majority of participants (60%) used their parents as primary attachment figures but were in the process of transferring attachment‐related functions from parents to peers (best friends and romantic partners). The transfer of these functions the parents to peers was found to be a function of the duration of the peer relationship. Furthermore, factors that generally promote the development of attachment formation in infancy (such as caregiving, trust, and intimate contact) were found to be positively associa

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  6. Reliability and stability of adult attachment patterns

    Elaine Scharfe, Kim Bartholomew · 1994 · Personal Relationships · 601 citations

    Abstract A basic premise of attachment theory is that internal models of attachment remain relatively stable across the life span. We examined stability and change in adult attachment representations over 8 months in a sample of young adults (N = 144; Mean age = 24.5 years). Attachment patterns were assessed by categorical and continuous ratings across three methods—self‐report ratings, expert ratings based on semi‐structured interviews, and reports of romantic partners—and showed moderate stability. Interview ratings tended to show higher stability than self‐report ratings. Changes in attachment ratings (across methods) were not consistently related to life events that had occurred in the i

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  7. Attachment and the experience and expression of emotions in romantic relationships: A developmental perspective.

    Jeffry A. Simpson, W. Andrew Collins, Sisi Tran, et al. · 2007 · Journal of Personality and Social Psychology · 489 citations

    In this longitudinal study, the authors tested a developmental hypothesis derived from attachment theory and recent empirical findings. Target participants were 78 individuals who have been studied intensively from infancy into their mid-20s. When targets were 20-23 years old, the authors tested the way in which interpersonal experiences at 3 pivotal points in each target's earlier social development--infancy/early childhood, early elementary school, and adolescence--predicted the pattern of positive versus negative emotions experienced with his or her romantic partner. A double-mediation model revealed that targets classified as securely attached at 12 months old were rated as more socially

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  8. Dynamics of romantic love : attachment, caregiving, and sex

    Mario Mikulincer, Gail S. Goodman · 2006 · 438 citations

    Part I: Introduction. Goodman, Attachment to Attachment Theory: A Personal Perspective on an Attachment Researcher. Mikulincer, Attachment, Caregiving, and Sex within Romantic Relationships: A Behavioral Systems Perspective. Part II: Basic Attachment Processes in Couple Relationships. Hazan, Campa, Gur-Yaish, What is Adult Attachment? Brumbaugh, Fraley, The Evolution of Attachment in Romantic Relationships. Bartholomew, Allison, An Attachment Perspective on Abusive Dynamics in Intimate Relationships. Levy, Kelly, Jack, Sex Differences in Jealousy: A Matter of Evolution or Attachment History? Part III: Interplay Between the Caregiving and Attachment Systems. Collins, Guichard, Ford, Feeney, R

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  9. An Attachment-Theoretical Approach to Romantic Love and Religious Belief

    Lee A. Kirkpatrick, Philip R. Shaver · 1992 · Personality and Social Psychology Bulletin · 413 citations

    This study conceptualizes personal religion, like romantic love, in terms of attachment theory and explores empirical relationships between adult attachment style and religious belief and behavior in an adult sample. Respondents who classified themselves as secure reported greater religious commitment and more positive images of God than insecure respondents. Avoidant respondents were more likely to describe themselves as agnostics; anxious/ambivalent respondents were more likely to report having had a glossolalia experience. Security of attachment to God was positively associated with security of adult attachment, but only among respondents who described their childhood maternal attachments

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  10. Attachment in Adult Romantic Relationships: Style of Conflict Resolution and Relationship Satisfaction

    M. Carole Pistole · 1989 · Journal of Social and Personal Relationships · 186 citations

    This study considers the issue of adult attachment style in relation to conflict resolution and relationship satisfaction. Subjects selected into one of three styles: secure, anxious/ambivalent, or avoidant. Analyses revealed significant differences among the groups on three styles of conflict resolution (compromising, obliging, and integrating) and on relationship satisfaction. The results are interpreted with regard to attachment theory.

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  11. The adult attachment interview and self‐reports of romantic attachment: Associations across domains and methods

    PHILLIP R. SHAVER, JAY BELSKY, KELLY A. BRENNAN · 2000 · Personal Relationships · 166 citations

    AbstractTwo lines of research on adult attachment have emerged; both are based on Bowlby and Ainsworth's attachment theory, which in turn relies on evolutionary theory. Investigators in one tradition use the Adult Attachment Interview (AAI) to assess “state of mind with respect to attachment.” The AAI has been validated primarily by its ability to predict the attachment classification of an interviewee's child in Ainsworth's “strange situation.” Investigators in the second tradition use self‐report measures to assess romantic “attachment style.” The self‐report measures have been validated by their ability to predict features of romantic/marital relationships. Although the two constructs. st

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  12. Attachment and conflict communication in adult romantic relationships

    Rachel Domingue, Debra Mollen · 2009 · Journal of Social and Personal Relationships · 88 citations

    This study explored the connections between adult attachment styles (i.e., secure, preoccupied, fearful-avoidant, dismissing) and communication patterns during conflict (i.e., mutual constructive, demand-withdraw, mutual avoidance, and withholding). Specifically, this study examined how the combination of both partners’ attachment styles, or couple type (i.e., secure-secure, secure-insecure, insecure-insecure), related to self-reported conflict communication patterns. Couples had been together for at least two years (i.e., in a dating, cohabitating, engaged, or marital relationship). Participants included 43 different-sex couples and 10 same-sex couples, who lived primarily in a large metrop

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  13. Adult attachment and romantic partner preference: A review

    Bjarne M. Holmes, Kimberly R. Johnson · 2009 · Journal of Social and Personal Relationships · 87 citations

    In this literature review we explore inconsistencies in studies relating self-reported adult attachment to romantic partner preference. Such studies have tested one of three hypotheses: that individuals prefer partners with a similar attachment style, a complementary attachment style, or the attachment style most likely to offer attachment security. Consistent with all hypotheses, secure individuals prefer similarly secure partners. Discrepancies are found, however, regarding insecure individuals’ preferences. Evidence supporting similarity and attachment—security hypotheses is primarily reported in research on attraction to hypothetical partners. Evidence supporting the complementarity hypo

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  15. Adult attachment and cortisol responses to discussions with a romantic partner

    KATHRYN P. BROOKS, THEODORE F. ROBLES, CHRISTINE DUNKEL SCHETTER · 2011 · Personal Relationships · 33 citations

    This study examines the effects of actor and partner attachment security on cortisol responses to discussions of personal and relationship concerns with a romantic partner. Dating couples (N = 30) completed two 20‐min discussions and provided saliva samples at 4 time points before and after. Hierarchical linear modeling revealed that among women, higher levels of partner avoidance predicted greater cortisol reactivity to both discussions and among men, higher levels of actor anxiety predicted greater reactivity to the relationship concern discussion. These findings extend previous work by demonstrating that the effects of attachment on physiology vary by gender and by discussion context, whi

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  16. Adult Attachment and Personality as Predictors of Jealousy in Romantic Relationships

    Marina Richter, Katja Schlegel, Philipp Thomas, et al. · 2022 · Frontiers in Psychology · 23 citations

    Functional relationships between romantic jealousy and traits, such as neuroticism or adult attachment styles, are well-known. For the first time, we conducted a joint analysis of the Big Five traits and attachment dimensions as predictors of jealousy, which considered gender differences as well as differences in infidelity experiences and relationship status. In 847 participants, path modeling showed that higher neuroticism, lower agreeableness, and lower openness predicted higher romantic jealousy. The attachment dimensions “anxiety” and “depend” partly mediated the effect of neuroticism and fully mediated the effect of agreeableness on romantic jealousy. The direct and indirect relationsh

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  18. The Role of Narcissism and Attachment in Adult Romantic Relationships: A Study of Greek-speaking Adult Participants

    Eleni Ellina, Panagiotis Parpottas · 2023 · The European Journal of Counselling Psychology

    The present study examined the relationship between narcissism and attachment dimensions in adult romantic relationships. One hundred and fifty one adults from the general population completed self-report measures of attachment dimensions, grandiose and vulnerable narcissism. The results indicated that both types of narcissism were significantly correlated to insecure attachment dimensions (anxiety and avoidance). Additionally, the results of the hierarchical multiple regression initially showed a significant prediction of grandiose narcissism in the insecure attachment dimensions, which was then counterweighted by the stronger contribution of vulnerable narcissism. The most significant vari

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  19. Como os padrões de apego explicam a dependência emocional das mulheres nos relacionamentos afetivos

    Natalia Benício França, Thaís Mertz de Araujo, Rosana Valinas Llausas · 2026 · RCMOS - Revista Científica Multidisciplinar O Saber

    Loving with emotional dependence generates suffering and loss of autonomy. Internal voids demand constant fulfillment, and when one attempts to fill such a void with another person’s love, one’s physical and mental health may be put at risk. In this context, the present study seeks to analyze how attachment styles, based on the theory proposed by John Bowlby, influence the development of relationships and emotional dependence in women, with the aim of reflecting on feelings and behaviors in contemporary romantic relationships. The study was characterized as exploratory research involving female participants aged between 20 and 50 years, residing in the state of São Paulo and involved in a ro

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