Automatic activation of attachment-related goals.
When people encounter threats, their attachment systems are activated and they become motivated to seek protection and support through proximity to their attachment figures. Theoretically, therefore, mental representations of attachment figures should be associated with goals related to attaining proximity and safety. The present studies explore this idea by examining the effects of a person's chronic attachment style and exposure to a particular attachment figure's name on the automatic activation of attachment-related goals. Studies 1 and 2 examine effects of exposure to the name of a security-providing attachment figure on willingness to self-disclose and seek support (two behaviors related to gaining proximity). Study 3 examines how exposure to names of different relationship partners (with whom a participant has felt secure, anxious, or avoidant) affects the mental accessibility of attachment-related goal words. Taken together, the studies support the idea that mental representations of attachment figures are associated with attachment-related goals.
Gillath
Omri
O
University of California, Davis, USA.
Mikulincer
Mario
M
Fitzsimons
Grainne M
GM
Shaver
Phillip R
PR
Schachner
Dory A
DA
Bargh
John A
JA
D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D001332:Automatism; D005260:Female; D006040:Goals; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D009042:Motivation; D009769:Object Attachment; D012650:Self Disclosure; D012944:Social Support; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires