scholarly journals Finding yourself at work: examining the influence of attachment styles on organizational identification

2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Spencer Hewitt

Understanding why and how employees engage with their organization is integral to the maintenance of a productive workforce. While research on attachment theory in organizations has focused on interpersonal work relationships, recent theory suggests that employees may attach to the organization itself. This study examines whether attachment style influences if and how employees choose to identify with their organization. Specifically, I focus on how adult attachment style influences an expanded form of organizational identification and whether or not person-organization fit and need for organizational identification moderate the hypothesized attachment-identity relationships. The results of a time-lagged study of 362 working adults suggest that attachment anxiety encourages self-definition in terms of the organization while individuals high in avoidance seek to maintain emotional distance from the organization in their identities. No support was found for the hypothesized moderators. The results are framed around potential development of the expanded model of organizational identification.

2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Spencer Hewitt

Understanding why and how employees engage with their organization is integral to the maintenance of a productive workforce. While research on attachment theory in organizations has focused on interpersonal work relationships, recent theory suggests that employees may attach to the organization itself. This study examines whether attachment style influences if and how employees choose to identify with their organization. Specifically, I focus on how adult attachment style influences an expanded form of organizational identification and whether or not person-organization fit and need for organizational identification moderate the hypothesized attachment-identity relationships. The results of a time-lagged study of 362 working adults suggest that attachment anxiety encourages self-definition in terms of the organization while individuals high in avoidance seek to maintain emotional distance from the organization in their identities. No support was found for the hypothesized moderators. The results are framed around potential development of the expanded model of organizational identification.


2020 ◽  
Vol 39 (6) ◽  
pp. 523-560
Author(s):  
Ottilia Klipsch ◽  
Henning Schauenburg ◽  
Christoph Nikendei ◽  
Cord Benecke ◽  
Ulrike Dinger

Introduction: Given the heterogeneity of results in the attentional bias to threatening information in patients with panic disorder, we investigated the attentional bias toward threat and the moderating effect of attachment styles in a female-only sample of panic patients and a nonclinical control group. Methods: Female panic patients (n = 47) were compared to a female control group (n = 47) using a modified Dot Probe Task with body-related and interpersonal threat as well as attachment positive words. Results: An attentional bias toward threat words was not replicated. Furthermore, there was no moderation effect on attentional bias by attachment styles. However, high attachment avoidance was associated with faster reaction times (RT) in attachment positive compared to attachment threat trials in both groups. In the patient group, attachment anxiety was associated with faster RT in panic threat trials compared to attachment positive trials. Anxiously attached controls reacted faster to attachment positive vs. attachment threat trials. Discussion: No attentional bias was found in the present study. However, the findings suggest that attachment avoidance and attachment anxiety differently influence attention responses to trials that include different emotional stimuli in clinical and nonclinical, female participants. Attachment insecurity may modify attention when processing trials including both, threat and positive stimuli.


2008 ◽  
Vol 36 (10) ◽  
pp. 1341-1351 ◽  
Author(s):  
Tonggui Li ◽  
Jia Li ◽  
Qiyan Dai

This study investigated the relationship between adult attachment, social support, and depression of post-stroke patients. A total of 100 post-stroke patients were recruited to complete 4 questionnaires, which include 2 widely used measurements of adult attachment – the Relationship Questionnaire (Bartholomew & Horowitz, 1991) and the Experiences of Close Relationships Inventory (Brennan, Clark, & Shaver, 1998) – to measure patients' attachment style, the Social Support Inventory (Xiao, 1994) measuring four aspects of social support, and the Beck Depression Inventory (Beck, 1967) measuring their depression level. The results suggested that patients differ in adult attachment styles and varied significantly in all indices of social support and depression. Secure subjects got higher scores in social support and lower scores of depression. Their depression level had significant positive correlations with attachment avoidance and attachment anxiety, and was negatively correlated to all indices of social support. Furthermore, both attachment-anxiety and subjective social support can predicate the depression level of poststroke patients.


2016 ◽  
Vol 34 (2) ◽  
pp. 184-208 ◽  
Author(s):  
Yangu Pan ◽  
Dajun Zhang ◽  
Yanling Liu ◽  
Guangming Ran ◽  
Zhaojun Teng

Abundant evidence has demonstrated a relationship between adult attachment and the experience of one’s own pain. However, few studies have investigated the associations between adult attachment and perception of others’ pain. The current studies examined the effects of attachment style and security priming on the perception of others’ pain. In Study 1, we explored the influence of avoidant and anxious attachment styles on the perception of pain in pictures representing pain or no pain. The results indicated that individuals high on anxiety and low on avoidance (i.e., preoccupied attachment style) reported more pain intensity and unpleasantness for painful pictures; individuals high on both anxiety and avoidance (i.e., fearful attachment style) reported less pain intensity for painful pictures. In Study 2, we examined the effects of security priming and attachment style on the perception of pain in pictures representing pain or no pain by adopting a security priming paradigm. The results suggested that security priming attenuated perceived pain intensity for painful pictures for individuals with high attachment anxiety. In Study 3, we used another well-validated security priming paradigm; results indicated that security priming reduced perceived pain intensity for pain pictures among individuals high on anxiety and low on avoidance (i.e., preoccupied attachment style) but increased perceived pain intensity for painful pictures among individuals high on both anxiety and avoidance (i.e., fearful attachment style). Directions for future research, clinical implications, and limitations of the present studies are discussed.


2018 ◽  
Author(s):  
Charlotte Krahé ◽  
Mariana von Mohr ◽  
Antje Gentsch ◽  
Lisette Guy ◽  
Chiara Vari ◽  
...  

AbstractAffective touch supports affiliative bonds and social cognition. However, it remains unknown whether pre-existing models of social relating influence the perception of affective touch. Here, we present the first study (N=44) to examine how individual differences in attachment styles relate to the perception of affective touch, as well as to a different non-social modality of interoception, namely cardiac perceived accuracy. Using the gold standard assessment of adult attachment (Adult Attachment Interview), we found that insecure attachment was associated with reduced pleasantness discrimination between affective vs. non-affective, neutral touch. Acknowledging the different traditions in measuring attachment, we also used a well-validated self-report questionnaire that pertains to explicit representations of current close relationships. Using this measure, we found that higher scores on an attachment anxiety dimension (but not an attachment avoidance) were associated with reduced pleasantness discrimination between affective vs. non-affective, neutral touch. Attachment patterns (in both measures) were not related to cardiac perception accuracy. These results corroborate and extend previous literature on the affectivity of touch and its relation with affiliative bonds and social cognition. Given that attachment was not related to perceived cardiac accuracy, these findings point to the specificity of the relationship between affective touch and attachment.


2018 ◽  
Vol 123 (2) ◽  
pp. 239-251
Author(s):  
Chieko Fujisaki

AEON-HO (Altering emotional organization-holistic operation) contains methods of Naikan therapy and mindfulness. Naikan and mindfulness are originally from Buddhism tradition, and they have a high affinity. AEON-HO was conceptualized to improve attachment issues and the growth of self-actualization, because Naikan and mindfulness are known to be effective for attachment issues but partially if they are used independently. Naikan can approach to attachment avoidance, while mindfulness can approach to attachment anxiety. The primary purpose of this study was to assess the effectiveness of AEON-HO on attachment styles, self-actualization, and depression by using “attachment style scale the Experiences in Close Relationships inventory–the generalized–other–version (ECR-GO),” “self-actualization scale” translated to Japanese, and “center for epidemiologic studies for depression scale.” Participants have taken these three psychological questionnaires before and after the eight-week program of AEON-HO, and the results of scales were compared. Participants were 36 adults with a mean age of 49 years ( SD = 3.9). Changes in two attachment styles, anxiety and avoidance and depressive state, were observed between pre- and posttest, while there were no significant changes in self-actualization. However, attachment anxiety and self-actualization were correlated negatively in pre- and posttest, while attachment avoidance and self-actualization were correlated negatively only in pretest.


Author(s):  
Beycan Gözde Ayhan ◽  
BASAR AYRIBAS ◽  
Canan Sanal ◽  
Pemra Cöbek Ünalan

Background: Fibromyalgia syndrome (FMS) is a chronic syndrome primarily characterized by widespread musculoskeletal pain. Although its etiology is not fully understood, complex interactions between biological, genetic and psycho-sociological factors thought to be effective in the onset and maintenance of FMS. Psychological factors could be explained by social cognitive concepts, which include mentalizing other person’s intentions, beliefs, behaviors and attachment styles. Objectives: In this study we aimed to examine social cognitive and attachment profiles of FMS patients. Methods: The participants were recruited from Marmara University Pendik Training and Research Hospital. Sociodemographic data were questioned in both groups while FMS group was also administered Fibromyalgia Impact Questionnaire (FIQ) to determine disease severity. In order to evaluate social cognition profiles of the participants, Reading Mind in the Eyes Test (RMET), Empathy Quotient (EQ) and Experiences in Close Relationships-Revised were applied by the same researcher. Results: 41 women with FMS and 44 healthy women matched for education and age were involved in the study. There was no significant difference in sociodemographic parameters between FMS and control groups. FMS patients did not differ significantly from control subjects in means of RMET and EQ scores. Although no significant difference found between attachment anxiety, FMS patients were found to have more avoidant attachment style than control group. Conclusion: FMS patients may have no social cognition impairments, especially in lack of any psychiatric comorbidities. Moreover, these patients may suffer from avoidant type of insecure attachment and this attachment style may effect social support seeking behaviour of these patients.


2020 ◽  
Vol 17 (7) ◽  
pp. 636-644
Author(s):  
Hyu Jung Huh ◽  
Kyung Hee Kim ◽  
Hee-Kyung Lee ◽  
Jeong-Ho Chae

Objective The present study examines the effects of attachment styles on the grief response and the indirect effect of rumination in parents who lost a child in the Sewol Ferry accident.Methods Bereaved parents (n=81) completed self-report questionnaires evaluating their attachment style (Experience in Close Relationship-Short form), traumatic loss related rumination (Event-Related Rumination Inventory), degree of complicated grief (Inventory of Complicated Grief), and post-traumatic growth (Post-Traumatic Growth Inventory). Data were analyzed using correlation analysis, structural equation modeling, and bootstrapping.Results The indirect effect of event-related intrusive rumination was significant in the relationship between attachment avoidance and complicated grief. The path from attachment avoidance to post-traumatic growth via deliberate rumination was not significant. With respect toattachment anxiety and post-traumatic growth, the indirect effect of deliberate rumination was significant. But the indirect effect of intrusive rumination was not significant in the relationships among attachment anxiety, complicated grief, and post-traumatic growth.Conclusion Individuals with attachment anxiety could obtain post-traumatic growth via deliberate rumination. By contrast, attachment avoidance was associated with the risk of maladaptive grief. Grief interventions should account for individual differences in attachment styles through interventions that manage intrusive rumination and strengthen deliberate rumination.


2021 ◽  
Vol 33 (S1) ◽  
pp. 88-89
Author(s):  
Suthikarn Arunrasameesopa ◽  
Tinakon Wongpakaran ◽  
Nahathai Wongpakaran

Background:Little is known regarding attachment styles among residents in long-term care homes and the relationship with depression and lonelinessResearch Objective:The study evaluated the distribution of attachment among residents in long-term care (LTC) homes and identified their association with depression and loneliness.Method:This study involved 132 residents in LTC homes in Thailand. All of them were cognitively intact based on Mini-Cog. The Thai version of the Experiences of Close Relationships-Revised questionnaire (ECR-R-18), the Relationships Questionnaire (RQ) were used to assess attachment. The Thai version of Geriatric Depression Scale (GDS-6) and the 6-item Revised version of The University of California Los Angeles Loneliness Scale (RULS-6) were completed.Preliminary results of the ongoing study:Participants included 85 females (64.4%) with mean age 74.89 (SD 7.89) years. The mean number of years of education was 6.81(SD 4.46) years. Most of the attachment styles were insecure (60.7%). The distribution of attachment style was 39.4% for secure, 15.2% for fearful, 16.7% for preoccupied, and 28.8% for dismissing. The mean score of attachment- anxiety was 3.58 and of attachment-avoidance was 3.61. Mean GDS score was 1.17 (SD 1.58), while depression based on the GDS cut-off was found in 31.1% of the residents. Mean RULS score was 2.36 (SD 0.75). Factors associated with Depression includes male (c2= 4.50, p <.05), anxious attachment (t = 3.51, p = 0.001) and loneliness (t = 4.90, p <0.001). Anxious attachment was associated with loneliness (p <0.001) and depression score (p <0.001), while avoidant attachment was not.Conclusion:The majority attachment style among residents in LTC homes is insecure attachment, with dismissing style the most prevalent. Attachment with high anxiety i.e., preoccupied, and fearful was associated with loneliness and depression.


2018 ◽  
Vol 52 (5/6) ◽  
pp. 1185-1202 ◽  
Author(s):  
Arnold Japutra ◽  
Yuksel Ekinci ◽  
Lyndon Simkin

PurposeThe purpose of this study is to investigate the relationships between brand attachment and consumers’ positive and negative behaviours. Furthermore, this study examines the moderating effects of attachment styles on these relationships.Design/methodology/approachThe study is based on a survey of 432 respondents, and the data are analysed using the structural equation modelling approach.FindingsThis study empirically supports that brand attachment and attachment styles (i.e. anxiety attachment and avoidance attachment) are distinct. Brand attachment influences consumers’ not only positive behaviour (i.e. brand loyalty) but also negative behaviours, such as trash-talking, schadenfreude and anti-brand actions. The findings of the study suggest that only avoidance attachment style moderates the relationships between brand attachment and these consumer behaviours. The link between brand attachment and brand loyalty is attenuated for high-attachment-avoidance consumers. In contrast, the links between brand attachment and trash-talking, schadenfreude and anti-brand actions are strengthened.Practical implicationsThis study assists marketing managers in understanding that a strong brand attachment may result in negative behaviours that can harm a company’s brand image. Thus, building a strong relationship with consumers will not always be beneficial. Companies should be aware of the consequences of building relationships with consumers who have a high level of attachment anxiety and/or avoidance.Originality/valueThis paper highlights that brand attachment not only influences brand loyalty behaviour but also three negative behaviours: trash-talking, schadenfreude and anti-brand actions. Moreover, the links between brand attachment and negative behaviours are strengthened when consumers have a high level of attachment avoidance.


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