Effects of Attachment Styles on the Experience of Equity in Heterosexual Couples Relationships

Abstract

Employing one correlational and two experimental studies, this paper examines the influence of attachment styles (secure, anxious, avoidant) on a person's experience of equity in intimate relationships. While one experimental study employed a priming technique to stimulate the different attachment styles, the other involved vignettes describing fictitious characters with typical attachment styles. As the specific hypotheses about the single equity components have been developed on the basis of the attachment theory, the equity ratio itself and the four equity components (own outcome, own input, partner's outcome, partner's input) are analyzed as dependent variables. While partners with a secure attachment style tend to describe their relationship as equitable (i.e., they give and take extensively), partners who feel anxious about their relationship generally see themselves as being in an inequitable, disadvantaged position (i.e., they receive little from their partner). The hypothesis that avoidant partners would feel advantaged as they were less committed was only supported by the correlational study. Against expectations, the results of both experiments indicate that avoidant partners generally see themselves (or see avoidant vignettes) as being treated equitably, but that there is less emotional exchange than is the case with secure partners. Avoidant partners give and take less than secure ones.

Motivators of Mobilization

“…Under-reward inequity in relationships has been found to represent a force which undermines relationship cohesion, trust, commitment, and continuity (Chenet et al 2000;Hogg and Abrams 1988), and perception of under-reward results in feelings such as frustration, resentment, and anger (Grau and Doll 2003), leading to equity restoration attempts (Griffeth et al 1989;Scheer et al 2003). Based on such findings, certain researchers have drawn a link between stakeholders' perceptions of equity in the firm-stakeholder relationship and the likelihood of their mobilizing to take action against the firm.…”

“…The reciprocity norms which undergird the arguments of Harrison and colleagues also form the basis of equity theory (Adams, 1963(Adams, , 1965, the most widely studied theory of fairness (Greenberg 1990;Grau and Doll 2003). Although equity theory is only explicitly mentioned by a few authors in the stakeholder literature (e.g.…”

Equality Discrepancy Between Women in Same-Sex Relationships: The Mediating Role of Attachment in Relationship Satisfaction

“…as well as to one's self (e.g., should I be loved, cared for and attended to?). In measuring adult attachment in romantic relationships, two factors have been found consistently to relate to relationship distress (e.g., Brennan et al 1998;Grau andDoll 2003, Hazan andShaver 1987). Anxious attachment refers to the tendency for people to desire for more intimacy than they receive, to feel fear of abandonment by their partners, and to the general feeling of not being loved sufficiently.…”

“…Attachment theory (Ainsworth et al 1978;Bowlby 1973) is increasingly applied to research on adult romantic relationships (Grau and Doll 2003;Kurdek 2002). This theory suggests that close relationships are organized by internal working models that structure relational thoughts, affects, and behaviors in connection with one's partner (e.g., is the partner loving, nurturing, accessible?)…”

“…The other dimension, avoidant attachment, is associated with the tendency to limit intimacy in relationships. Individuals with high levels of avoidant attachment need to be self-sufficient and reduce emotional connection with their partners (Grau and Doll 2003). Although past research on adult attachment has focused on individual typology (e.g., a person is either avoidant, anxious, or securely attached), Fraley and Waller (1998) have suggested that researchers focus on assessing attachment styles through continuous measures.…”