A Review of Attachment Theory Application in Relationship Conflict

Abstract. Employing one correlational and two experimental studies, this paper examines the influence of attachment styles (secure, anxious, avoidant) on a person’s experience of equity in intimate relationships. While one experimental study employed a priming technique to stimulate the different attachment styles, the other involved vignettes describing fictitious characters with typical attachment styles. As the specific hypotheses about the single equity components have been developed on the basis of the attachment theory, the equity ratio itself and the four equity components (own outcome, own input, partner’s outcome, partner’s input) are analyzed as dependent variables. While partners with a secure attachment style tend to describe their relationship as equitable (i.e., they give and take extensively), partners who feel anxious about their relationship generally see themselves as being in an inequitable, disadvantaged position (i.e., they receive little from their partner). The hypothesis that avoidant partners would feel advantaged as they were less committed was only supported by the correlational study. Against expectations, the results of both experiments indicate that avoidant partners generally see themselves (or see avoidant vignettes) as being treated equitably, but that there is less emotional exchange than is the case with secure partners. Avoidant partners give and take less than secure ones.

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Incarcerated Adolescents' Distress and Suicidality in Relation to Parental Bonding Styles

Crisis ◽

10.1027//0227-5910.20.4.164 ◽

1999 ◽

Vol 20 (4) ◽

pp. 164-170 ◽

Cited By ~ 12

Author(s):

Elizabeth L McGarvey ◽

Ludmila A Kryzhanovskaya ◽

Cheryl Koopman ◽

Dennis Waite ◽

Randolph J Canterbury

Keyword(s):

At Risk ◽

Attachment Theory ◽

Suicidal Behavior ◽

Parental Bonding ◽

Psychosocial Problems ◽

Self Esteem ◽

Suicidal Thoughts ◽

Parental Bonding Instrument ◽

Significant Relationships ◽

Incarcerated Adolescents

This study examines the relationships between the bonding style of an incarcerated adolescent with parents and his/her current feelings of self-esteem, hopelessness, and suicidal thoughts and attempts. It also investigates differences between bonding to mother and bonding to father. Some 296 incarcerated adolescents were interviewed using the Parental Bonding Instrument. Significant relationships were found between youths' self-esteem, hopelessness, and suicidal behavior and their bonding style. Youths whose parent(s) had a parental bonding style of affectionless control reported the greatest distress, and youths whose parent(s) had an optimal bonding style reported the least distress. Differences were found between bonding styles with the mother and with the father. Attachment theory may be useful in targeting incarcerated youths who have affectionless control bonding with parent(s) for special interventions since these youths are most at risk for psychosocial problems.

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Task and Relationship Conflict at Work

European Journal of Psychological Assessment ◽

10.1027/1015-5759/a000064 ◽

2011 ◽

Vol 27 (3) ◽

pp. 171-178 ◽

Cited By ~ 32

Author(s):

Nale Lehmann-Willenbrock ◽

Anna Grohmann ◽

Simone Kauffeld

Keyword(s):

Factor Analysis ◽

Confirmatory Factor Analysis ◽

Negative Impact ◽

Longitudinal Design ◽

Industrial Sector ◽

Task Conflict ◽

Relationship Conflict ◽

Factor Solution ◽

Convenience Sample ◽

Confirmatory Factor

The distinction between task and relationship conflict is well established. Based on Jehn’s (1995) intragroup conflict scale, we developed an economic six-item questionnaire for assessing relationship and task conflict in work groups. Confirmatory factor analysis was performed on data from a convenience sample (N = 247), and confirmed the original two-factor solution. The stability of the obtained two-factor solution was supported by confirmatory factor analysis in a longitudinal design with a second sample (N = 431) from the industrial sector. In line with previous research, the two types of conflict were intercorrelated. Moreover, the two subscales showed differential longitudinal effects on team outcomes. Task conflict was beneficial for performance in nonroutine tasks (but not in routine tasks). Relationship conflict had a negative impact on team viability and coworker trust.

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