Secure Base Priming Diminishes Conflict-Based Anger and Anxiety

Abstract

This study examines the impact of a visual representation of a secure base (i.e. a secure base prime) on attenuating experimentally produced anger and anxiety. Specifically, we examined the assuaging of negative emotions through exposure to an image of a mother-infant embrace or a heterosexual couple embracing. Subjects seated at a computer terminal rated their affect (Pre Affect) using the Affect Adjective Checklist (AAC) then listened to two sets of intense two person conflicts. After the first conflict exposure they rated affect again (Post 1 AAC). Following the second exposure they saw a blank screen (control condition), pictures of everyday objects (distraction condition) or a photo of two people embracing (Secure Base Prime condition). They then reported emotions using the Post 2 AAC. Compared to either control or distraction subjects, Secure Base Prime (SBP) subjects reported significantly less anger and anxiety. These results were then replicated using an internet sample with control, SBP and two new controls: Smiling Man (to control for expression of positive affect) and Cold Mother (an unsmiling mother with infant). The SBP amelioration of anger and anxiety was replicated with the internet sample. No control groups produced this effect, which was generated only by a combination of positive affect in a physically embracing dyad. The results are discussed in terms of attachment theory and research on spreading activation.

The Effectiveness of Attachment Security Priming in Improving Positive Affect and Reducing Negative Affect: A Systematic Review

“…Sixteen studies employed a subliminal priming technique [17] (b-d), [24], [26] (a), [28,31], [32] (a,b), [33] (a-g). Of these, eleven used picture primes [17] (b,d), [24], [32] (a,b), [33] (a-c, e-g) and six used word primes [17] (c), [26] (a), [28,31], [33] (d,e).…”

“…Attachment security primes were pictures of a mother comforting her baby [24], [32] (a,b), [33] (a-c, e-g), a young heterosexual couple embracing [17] (b-d), [32] (a,b) and an elderly couple sitting close together [33] (c). Control primes (used in all 11 studies) varied, all used neutral (non-attachment relevant) pictures as a control, eight also used positive affect picture primes unrelated to attachment as controls, such as a beautiful natural scene [17] (b,d), [32] (b), [33] b,c, e-g), and four included a no picture (passive) condition [33] (a, e-g). Across studies, attachment security priming significantly reduced negative affect or increased positive affect in comparison to neutral or no picture controls.…”

“…Most studies reported age ranges between 6 to 76 year, mean-21.9 years but not all [25], [29] (a-c), [30]. Studies were conducted in five countries: twelve in Israel [17] (a-e), [33] (a-g), ten in the US [24], [26] (a,b), [29] (a-c), [30,31], [32] (b), six in the UK [13,18], [22] (a,b), [25,27], one in China [16] and one in Canada [32] (a). The average percentage of females across studies was 64.3%.…”

“…Research design. Seventeen studies utilised a between-subject experimental design [13], [17] (a-e), [18], [22] (a,b), [24,25], [26] (b), [27,28,30], [32] (a,b) and five used a within-subject experimental design [29] (c), [31], [33] (b-d). Seven studies used mixed method designs [26] (a), [29] (a,b), [33] (a,e-g), and one adopted a quasi-experimental design [6].…”

From mother to Mother Nature: The role of interpersonal attachment in human–nature relations

“…While older literature reviews concluded that research does not frequently find that the effectiveness of security priming varies for individuals depending on how anxiously or avoidantly attached they are dispositionally (Gillath et al, 2016;Gillath, Selcuk, & Shaver, 2008), a recent systematic review of security priming research published from 2016-2018 came to a slightly different conclusion (Gillath & Karantzas, 2019). In five out of the nine reviewed studies that tested for interactions, people who were higher in trait attachment anxiety appeared to benefit more from security priming (Bryant & Chan, 2017;Dutton, Lane, Koren, & Bartholomew, 2016;Gillath, Karantzas, & Selcuk, 2017;Tang, Chen, Hu, & Liu, 2017). Moreover, two studies found the effect of security priming to be moderated by trait attachment avoidance (Bryant & Chan, 2017;Gillath et al, 2017).…”