Gender and working models of attachment: Consequences for perceptions of self and romantic relationships

Abstract

Several theorists have proposed that differential socialization experiences lead men and women to differ in the importance they assign to relationships and in how they interpret and respond to relationships. To explore this idea, this study examined whether men and women who reported similar attachment experiences responded differently to information about the same kind of relationship. Men and women with secure, preoccupied, or avoidant models of attachment imagined themselves in a relationship with a hypothetical partner who displayed secure, preoccupied, or avoidant behavior. As predicted, avoidant men and preoccupied women, whose attachment models exaggerated gender‐role stereotypes, expressed the most negativity toward themselves and the relationship. Women also were more likely than men to apply specific information about the imagined relationship to general beliefs about their own relationships. In addition, men and women whose attachment models matched the partner's behavior responded more favorably to the relationship if they both expressed security, but less favorably if they both expressed avoidance. Findings for gender and partner matching closely paralleled those for couples in long‐term relationships and support the idea that the meaning and consequences of attachment models must be considered within the context of gender roles.

What's sex got to do with it? Attachment, love schemas, and sexuality

“…In previous research, unusually negative relationship outcomes have been reported for Anxious (Clingy) women and Avoidant (Skittish) men (Collins & Read, 1990;Kirkpatrick & Davis, 1994;Pietromonaco & Carnelley, 1994;Simpson, 1990). Pietromonaco and Carnelley (1994) hypothesized that these unusually high rates of distress and partner unhappiness are due to the fact that the attachment styles of Anxious (Clingy) women and Avoidant (Skittish) men are consistent with traditional gender role socialization: Clingy women's (over)concern with relationships is one cornerstone of traditional female gender role socialization, and Skittish men show the (over)desire for independence that is a major element of traditional male gender role socialization. This consistency of attachment style and socialization may particularly constrain these individuals' behaviors in romantic relationships.…”

Adult Attachment Theory and Affective Reactivity and Regulation.

“…In contrast, people with a more avoidant style report little emotionality (Bartholomew & Horowitz, 1991;Collins & Read, 1990;Hazan & Shaver, 1987;Pietromonaco & Carnelley, 1994;Pietromonaco & Feldman Barrett, 1997). …”

Contextual and Procedural Determinants of Partner Selection: Of Asymmetric Dominance and Prominence

“…Attachment theory (Hazan & Shaver, 1994) postulates three types of attachment styles: secure, anxious/ambivalent, and anxious/avoidant. Research has shown that individuals prefer partners with an attachment style similar to theirs (Frazier et al, 1996;Pietromonaco & Carnelley, 1994), although recent evidence points to a general preference for securely attached partners (Chappell & Davis, 1998). From a need-based perspective, partner selection satisfies psycho-logical needs, such as the need to belong (Baumeister & Leary, 1995), the need for intimacy (Reis & Shaver, 1988), the need for positive affect maintenance (Sedikides, Oliver, & Campbell, 1994), or the need to expand the self (A. Aron & E. Aron, 1997).…”