Self-improvement as a response to interpersonal regulation in close relationships: the role of attachment styles.
This study was designed to examine how the two dimensions of adult attachment styles, attachment anxiety and avoidance, would affect young adults' intentions of self-improvement in response to various regulatory strategies used by a close other (i.e., a romantic partner or best friend). One hundred and eighteen undergraduate students were involved in this study. Major findings include (a) the more avoidant an individual was, the less likely he/she would improve on those attributes that were desired to change by their close other; (b) a close other's use of the strategy "voice" was positively associated with individuals' intentions to self-improve, while the use of the strategy "exit" was negatively associated with individuals' intentions to self-improve; (c) a close other's use of "loyalty" was associated with a lower level of intentions to self-improve, except for participants scored high on attachment avoidance. Theoretical and practical implications of these findings were discussed.
Nanjing University, Department of Psychology, Nanjing, Jiangsu 210053, China. vivianzh@nju.edu.cn
Hong
H
Zhang
D000223:Adaptation, Psychological; D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D001007:Anxiety / Q000523:psychology; D001362:Avoidance Learning; D003142:Communication; D003220:Conflict, Psychological; D003380:Courtship / Q000523:psychology*; D003674:Defense Mechanisms; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D033182:Intention; D007398:Interpersonal Relations; D008149:Love; D008297:Male; D008960:Models, Psychological; D009769:Object Attachment; D012649:Self Concept; D055815:Young Adult