Influences of adult attachment in exploration.
Research into the relationship between attachment quality in both children and adults suggests links with patterns of exploration; however, exploration has been operationalized differently in studies of adults and children. This study examined adults' patterns of exploration operationalized in terms of novelty seeking, curiosity, and impulsivity, as in studies of children. Analysis indicated avoidant adults reported significantly lower curiosity than did securely attached adults, while preoccupied subjects showed no differences from either secure or avoidant groups. As in studies of children, groups did not differ on measures of novelty seeking or impulsivity.
Johnston
M A
MA
University of Southern Maine, Department of Psychology, Portland 04104-9300, USA.
D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D005106:Exploratory Behavior; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009769:Object Attachment; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires