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Impact of attachment style on reactions to accommodative dilemmas in close relationships
Author(s) -
GAINES STANLEY O.,
REIS HARRY T.,
SUMMERS SHANDRA,
RUSBULT CARYL E.,
COX CHANTE L.,
WEXLER MICHAEL O.,
MARELICH WILLIAM D.,
KURLAND GREGORY J.
Publication year - 1997
Publication title -
personal relationships
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.81
H-Index - 83
eISSN - 1475-6811
pISSN - 1350-4126
DOI - 10.1111/j.1475-6811.1997.tb00133.x
Subject(s) - ambivalence , psychology , neglect , attachment theory , style (visual arts) , interpersonal communication , social psychology , interpersonal interaction , loyalty , developmental psychology , archaeology , psychiatry , law , history , political science
Four studies examined reactions to accommodative dilemmas in ongoing close relationships, exploring the association between adult attachment style—secure, avoidant, and anxious‐ambivalent—and four possible modes of reaction—exit, voice, loyalty, and neglect. Consistent with predictions, it was shown that which close partners enact potentially destructive behaviors, insecurely attached individuals tend to react in a more defensive and destructive manner. Specifically, in comparison to secure individuals, insecure individuals were more likely to react to accommodative dilemmas with exit and neglect, and were less likely to react with voice. Contrary to predictions, individuals with avoidant and anxious‐ambivalent styles did not differ in their reactions to accommodative dilemmas. The implications of these findings for understanding reactions to emotionally threatening interpersonal situations are discussed.