The Association Between Adult Attachment and Attributions for Romantic Partners' Negative Behaviors

There have been numerous studies investigating the influence of cognitive factors on romantic relationship functioning (see Bradbury & Fincham, 1990 for a review). However, few studies have examined the extent to which attributions for romantic partners' negative behaviors explain the association between adult attachment security and romantic relationship distress. The purpose of this study was to (1) examine the association between adult attachment security and the attributions individuals' make about romantic partners' negative behaviors, (2) investigate whether attributions made about generalized romantic partners' differ from those made about one's own specific romantic partner within attachment style groups, and (3) examine the extent to which attributions for romantic partners' negative behaviors account for the association between adult attachment security and romantic relationship distress. The participants were 609 college students selected from the introductory psychology course subject pool at the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign. Analyses revealed an association between adult attachment security and attributions for romantic partners' negative behaviors. Within each attachment style group, attributions for the negative behaviors of generalized romantic partners were generally more negative than those for participants' specific romantic partners. Results also revealed that attributions for romantic partners' negative behaviors partially mediated the association between adult attachment security and romantic relationship distress. The results suggest that the attributions individuals make about their romantic partners' negative behaviors may be a joint function of attachment security and characteristics unique to particular romantic others. Implications for treating distressed couples in therapy are discussed.

Name thesis:degree_name

Ph.D.

Level thesis:degree_level

Dissertation

Discipline thesis:degree_discipline

Psychology

Grantor

University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign

Year dc:date

2015

Author dc:creator

• Scott, Rogina Lucinda

Contributors dc:contributor

• James v. Cordova

• Psychology, Social

Language dc:language

eng

Identifier

(MiAaPQ)AAI3070431

OAI identifier oai:identifier

oai:www.ideals.illinois.edu:2142/82033