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Reconceptualizing adult attachment relationships: A network perspective
Author(s) -
McWilliams Lachlan A.,
Fried Eiko I.
Publication year - 2019
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/pere.12263
Subject(s) - perspective (graphical) , psychology , feeling , attachment theory , romance , social psychology , developmental psychology , psychoanalysis , computer science , artificial intelligence
This article explores attachment relationships from a network theory perspective: Correlations among behaviors, beliefs, and feelings related to attachment are hypothesized to stem from causal relations. The authors used two data sets that assessed relationships with four attachment figures (mother, father, romantic partner, and best friend) using the Relationship Structures Questionnaire. Separate networks (Gaussian Graphical Models) were estimated based on 10 items for each attachment figure. Across networks in Study 1 ( N = 310), items related to anxiety, seeking support, and discomfort disclosing feelings clustered with other items from their respective domains; a trust‐related item bridged the clusters. Study 2 replicated these findings in a larger and more diverse sample ( N = 3,710). The potential of network analysis for advancing the study of attachment is discussed.