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Beyond Satisfaction: The Role of Attachment in Marital Functioning
Author(s) -
Selcuk Emre,
Zayas Vivian,
Hazan Cindy
Publication year - 2010
Publication title -
journal of family theory and review
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.454
H-Index - 17
eISSN - 1756-2589
pISSN - 1756-2570
DOI - 10.1111/j.1756-2589.2010.00061.x
Subject(s) - attachment theory , psychology , perspective (graphical) , social psychology , developmental psychology , exploratory research , marital relationship , empirical research , sociology , philosophy , epistemology , artificial intelligence , computer science , anthropology
In this article, we investigate marital functioning from an attachment theory perspective. We review empirical evidence showing that, in nondistressed marriages, spouses, as attachment figures, provide each other with a subjective sense of felt security, regulate each other's affective and physiological states, and facilitate each other's functioning outside the relationship, especially with respect to exploratory behaviors. These provisions of the attachment bond occur independent of the level of satisfaction experienced in the marriage and may even occur when the marital relationship itself is not very satisfying. In addition, we discuss the role of attachment style in marital functioning. We conclude by suggesting future directions in which an attachment theory perspective may complement existing theory and research in marital relations.