The subclinical psychopath in love: Mediating effects of attachment styles

2017 ◽  
Vol 36 (2) ◽  
pp. 421-449 ◽  
Author(s):  
Alexis M. Unrau ◽  
Marian M. Morry
Keyword(s):  
Romantic Relationships ◽  
Attachment Styles ◽  
Romantic Relationship ◽  
Psychopathic Traits ◽  
Insecure Attachment ◽  
Mediating Effects ◽  
Attachment Avoidance ◽  
Univariate Analyses ◽  
Linear Regressions ◽  
Poor Relationship

Central to both psychopathy and insecure attachment is a failure to bond with others. In addition, avoidance is linked to both primary and secondary psychopathic variants. To date, there have been no published studies that examine psychopathic traits, attachment, and romantic relationships. We tested whether attachment avoidance mediated the psychopathy–interpersonal outcome relations. University students ( N = 167) in a romantic relationship completed measures of psychopathic traits, attachment, and romantic relationship variables. Linear regressions, univariate analyses, and multivariate analyses indicated that secondary, but not primary, traits were associated with poor relationship quality, more active prowling and less willful disinterest in alternative partners, and more deactivation and hyperactivation. Avoidance significantly mediated these relations. Therefore, improving attachment impairments may benefit individuals high in secondary traits.

Romantic relationships in adults with ADHD: The effect of partner attachment style on relationship quality

2020 ◽  
Vol 38 (1) ◽  
pp. 42-64
Author(s):  
Katherine Knies ◽  
Elizabeth A. Bodalski ◽  
Kate Flory
Keyword(s):  
Romantic Relationships ◽  
Relationship Quality ◽  
Attachment Style ◽  
Attachment Styles ◽  
Romantic Relationship ◽  
Insecure Attachment ◽  
Adhd Symptoms ◽  
Anxious Attachment ◽  
Avoidant Attachment ◽  
Romantic Relationship Quality

Prior literature indicates that insecure attachment styles (i.e., anxious or avoidant) and attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) both have negative impacts on romantic relationships, but relatively little is known about how these factors interact among couples where one partner has ADHD and the other does not. One hundred and fifty-nine partners of adults with significant ADHD symptoms completed measures of their own attachment styles, their partner’s ADHD symptoms, and relationship quality. Anxious attachment was associated with lower romantic relationship quality, but avoidant attachment was associated with more positive relationship outcomes. Results also indicated that the negative effect of ADHD symptoms on romantic relationship quality may be exacerbated by a partner’s high level of anxious attachment. Though insecure attachment styles are generally thought to have a negative impact on romantic relationships, avoidant attachment was generally associated with more positive outcomes in this study. Several possible explanations based on theoretical support are included in the discussion along with clinical applications and future directions.

The Cost of War: Attachment and MMO Gamers' Online and Offline Relationships

2018 ◽  
Vol 9 ◽  
Author(s):  
Alicia Limke-McLean
Keyword(s):  
Romantic Relationships ◽  
Relationship Satisfaction ◽  
Attachment Styles ◽  
Online Gaming ◽  
Attachment Avoidance ◽  
Sexual Anxiety ◽  
Cost Of War ◽  
Sexual Control ◽  
The Cost ◽  
The Relationship

AbstractThis study examined attachment styles, online behaviours, offline relationships, and sexuality of individuals engaged in a popular massive multiplayer online (MMO) game (Game of War: Fire Age). 178 players currently involved in romantic relationships completed surveys for in-game currency. Time spent gaming predicted less time with others, less relationship satisfaction, more relationship uncertainty, more sexual anxiety, and more external sexual control. However, attachment avoidance partially mediated the relationship between time spent online gaming and time spent with immediate family and friends; relationship satisfaction; self-partner, and relationship uncertainty; sexual anxiety; and external sexual control.

Attachment Styles and the Ideal Image of a Mate

2004 ◽  
Vol 9 (2) ◽  
pp. 87-95 ◽  
Author(s):  
Rami Tolmacz ◽  
Gil Goldzweig ◽  
Ruth Guttman
Keyword(s):  
Romantic Relationships ◽  
Attachment Style ◽  
Attachment Styles ◽  
Insecure Attachment ◽  
Young Males ◽  
Relational Patterns ◽  
Ideal Image ◽  
Personality Patterns ◽  
The Ideal

The study examines, within the framework of attachment theory, relationships of ideal images of young males with respect to their ideal image of a mate. A review of previous studies dealing with partner selection reveals the lack of a theoretical model that combines developmental processes and specific personality patterns with the process of creating an ideal image of the partner. The present study uses Facet Theory and Facet Design to construct a unified conceptual framework for the research in which attachment style and ideal image of the spouse are viewed as two modes of relating to one another. Intercorrelations among replies to the attachment and ideal image questionnaires were subjected to Smallest Space Analysis (SSA). The results indicate a relation between attachment style, the subjects' ideal image of a mate and the ideal images of oneself and one's mother. As predicted, persons with a secure style tended to have high levels of flexibility in their descriptions of the ideal image of the spouse. Males with insecure attachment styles exhibited different relational patterns of ideal image of themselves and their mothers. The SSA results suggest a hierarchic relation between attachment styles and the ideal image of a mate. These findings are consistent with the understanding that attachment styles affect the character and quality of the individual's romantic relationships.

scholarly journals Attached at the lips: The influence of romantic kissing motives and romantic attachment styles on relationship satisfaction

2019 ◽  
Vol 13 (1) ◽  
pp. 14-30
Author(s):  
Danica J. Kulibert ◽  
Elle A. Moore ◽  
Melinda M. Dertinger ◽  
Ashley E. Thompson
Keyword(s):  
Romantic Relationships ◽  
Relationship Satisfaction ◽  
Attachment Style ◽  
Attachment Styles ◽  
Romantic Relationship ◽  
Goal Attainment ◽  
Romantic Attachment ◽  
Relationship Functioning ◽  
The Impact ◽  
The Relationship

Although romantic kissing is an important part of relationship functioning, little research has focused on motives for romantic kissing and how they may relate to other aspects of romantic relationships. To understand how romantic kissing impacts romantic relationship functioning, the current study assessed the relationship between romantic attachment, romantic kissing motives, and relationship satisfaction. Overall, it was hypothesized that (a) those reporting more sexual/explicit kissing motives and fewer goal attainment/insecurity motives would report higher relationship satisfaction, (b) those reporting a more secure attachment style would report higher relationship satisfaction, and (c) the relationship between romantic kissing motives and relationship satisfaction would vary according to one’s romantic attachment styles. Results from a hierarchical linear regression with 286 adults, all of whom were currently in romantic relationships, revealed that sexual/relational (β = 0.25) and goal attainment/insecurity kissing motives (β = -0.35) predicted relationship satisfaction. However, the impact of kissing motives on relationship satisfaction varied according to one’s romantic attachment. Specifically, the influence of sexual/relational motives was only significant for avoidantly attached individuals, whereas the influence of goal attainment/insecurity motives was significant for avoidantly and anxiously attachment individuals. Overall, this suggests that sexual/explicit romantic kissing motives serve to enhance the relationships of insecurely attached individuals, but not securely attached individuals. Furthermore, goal attainment/insecure motives had a negative effect on the relationship satisfaction of insecurely attached individuals, but not securely attached individuals. This study has important implications for both practitioners working with romantic couples and researchers studying romantic relationships.

Roving Eyes: Predictors of Crushes in Ongoing Romantic Relationships and Implications for Relationship Quality

2019 ◽  
Vol 10 ◽  
Author(s):  
Charlene F. Belu ◽  
Lucia F. O'Sullivan
Keyword(s):  
Romantic Relationships ◽  
Relationship Quality ◽  
Romantic Relationship ◽  
Sexual Attraction ◽  
Individual Characteristics ◽  
Attachment Avoidance ◽  
Sociosexual Orientation ◽  
Potential Alternative ◽  
The Stability

Potential alternative partners can threaten the stability of established relationships, yet a romantic or sexual attraction to someone with whom you are not currently involved (i.e., a ‘crush’) appears common for those in relationships (Mullinax, Barnhart, Mark, & Herbenick, 2016). This study assessed prevalence of such crushes, individual and relationship predictors, and links to infidelity. Adults (N = 247, aged 25–45, 43.3% women) in romantic relationships completed surveys assessing individual characteristics (attention to alternatives, sociosexual orientation, attachment avoidance), relationship quality (satisfaction, commitment, intimacy), and infidelity. The degree of attention to alternatives predicted whether one had a crush on another while in a romantic relationship. Crushes were fairly common and seemed to have had few negative implications for those in established relationships. These findings will be of use to therapists addressing couples’ attraction to others.

Interparental conflict and relational attitudes within romantic relationships: The mediating role of attachment orientations

2022 ◽  
pp. 026540752110616
Author(s):  
Rami Tolmacz ◽  
Rachel Bachner-Melman ◽  
Lilac Lev-Ari ◽  
Karen Almagor
Keyword(s):  
Romantic Relationships ◽  
Attachment Style ◽  
Attachment Styles ◽  
Interparental Conflict ◽  
Structural Equations ◽  
Insecure Attachment ◽  
Couple Relationships ◽  
Anxious Attachment ◽  
Attachment Orientations ◽  
Avoidant Attachment

Early experiences and childhood perceptions of interparental conflict (IPC) have consistently been shown to have detrimental consequences for future psychological adjustment, in particular for attachment and couple relationships during adolescence and adulthood. We hypothesized that 1. IPC would predict anxious and avoidant attachment styles, and three relational attitudes associated with couple relationships: sense of relational entitlement, pathological concern, and authenticity; and 2. Attachment style would mediate the associations between IPC and these three relational attitudes. Measures of perceived IPC, attachment orientations, relational entitlement, pathological concern, and authenticity in romantic relationships were completed online by 280 young adults aged 19–32. IPC was positively correlated with anxious and avoidant attachment styles, restricted and inflated sense of entitlement, and pathological concern and negatively with authenticity. A structural equations model showed that IPC predicted avoidant and anxious attachment styles, which positively predicted an inflated and restricted sense of relational entitlement and pathological concern and negatively predicted authenticity. Attachment styles fully mediated the relationships between IPC and the relational attitudes. IPC therefore seems to be related to imbalanced attitudes in romantic relationships, due in part to a propensity toward insecure attachment orientations. Children with insecure attachment who are exposed to significant levels of IPC may be at high risk for relationship problems later in life because of difficulties exposing their vulnerability, assessing need fulfillment realistically, and caring for themselves as well as others. They should therefore be helped to communicate their relational needs to significant others, in particular to their partners.

Online Social Networking and Romantic Relationships

2020 ◽  
pp. 57-82
Author(s):  
Irem Metin-Orta
Keyword(s):  
Romantic Relationships ◽  
Social Networking ◽  
Interpersonal Relationships ◽  
Social Networking Sites ◽  
Attachment Styles ◽  
Romantic Relationship ◽  
Future Research ◽  
Online Social Networking ◽  
Adult Attachment Styles ◽  
The Impact

With the increased popularity of social media, social networking sites (SNSs) have received the attention of many scholars. In particular, researchers have focused on the impact of SNSs on interpersonal relationships. Accordingly, this chapter provides an overview of the extant literature concerning associations between the use of SNSs and romantic relationships. It provides empirical evidence on how social networking behaviors are influenced by adult attachment styles, and how social networking influences relationship constructs such as satisfaction, commitment, jealousy, and relationship dissolution. Furthermore, it presents previous research that emphasizes gender as a moderator in these relations. This chapter overall contributes to researchers and professionals in providing information on online social networking and emphasizing key romantic relationship constructs related to the use of SNSs. It also provides suggestions for future research.

Gelotophobia in romantic life: Replicating associations with attachment styles and their mediating role for relationship status

2020 ◽  
Vol 37 (10-11) ◽  
pp. 2890-2897 ◽  
Author(s):  
Kay Brauer ◽  
René T. Proyer
Keyword(s):  
Romantic Relationships ◽  
Attachment Styles ◽  
Romantic Relationship ◽  
Romantic Attachment ◽  
Relationship Status ◽  
Anxious Attachment ◽  
Mediating Role ◽  
Lower Likelihood

The fear of being laughed at (gelotophobia) plays a detrimental role in courtship (e.g., predicting a lower likelihood of entering a relationship) and romantic relationships (e.g., low relationship satisfaction). Gelotophobia correlates positively with anxious and avoidant romantic attachment. This study aims to replicate (a) the associations between gelotophobia and romantic attachment and (b) the mediating role of attachment in the association between gelotophobia and relationship experience using a sample of N = 531 participants ( M = 32.1 years; 63.7% singles). Previous findings replicated well, as gelotophobia positively relates to avoidant and anxious attachment and lower likelihood of entering a romantic relationship. Contrary to earlier research, only anxiety mediated the association between gelotophobia and relationship status. We discuss the findings regarding the attachment framework of long-term singlehood.

scholarly journals RELATIONSHIP BETWEEN FACEBOOK-RELATED BEHAVIORS AND CHARACTERISTICS OF A ROMANTIC RELATIONSHIP

TEME ◽  
2021 ◽  
pp. 281
Author(s):  
Ivana Isailović ◽  
Jelena Šakotić Kurbalija
Keyword(s):  
Romantic Relationships ◽  
Relationship Quality ◽  
Attachment Style ◽  
Social Networking Sites ◽  
Romantic Relationship ◽  
Dyadic Adjustment ◽  
Insecure Attachment ◽  
Relationship Status ◽  
Relational Factors ◽  
The Relationship

The problem of this study was to explore the relationship between Facebook-related behaviors and characteristics of romantic relationships. Based on the results of previous research, we assumed that there would be significant gender differences in the frequency and manner of using Facebook, that there would be a significant relationship between the attachment style and Facebook monitoring and Facebook-related conflicts, and that Facebook monitoring and Facebook-related conflicts would significantly predict relationship quality. The sample consisted of 201 respondents from Serbia, 42.5% of which were male. Using the Dyadic adjustment scale - DAS (Spanier, 1976, 1989), Interpersonal electronic surveillance - IES (Tokunaga, 2011; modification Tucker, 2014), The Facebook-related Conflict Scale (Clayton, Nagurney, & Smith, 2013) and Experiences in Close Relationships Inventory - ECR (Brennan, Clark, & Shaver, 1998; modification Kamenov & Jelic, 2003), results showed that women use Facebook and post the relationship status and pictures with a partner more often than men and that people with an insecure attachment style more often engage in Facebook monitoring. Also, results showed that Facebook-related conflicts are a significant predictor of relationship quality. The present study contributes to the understanding of romantic relationship dynamics in the age of social networking sites, by pointing to the relational factors that are potentially at risk because of Facebook use.

Sign in / Sign up

Export Citation Format

Share Document