IMPLICIT PROCESSES IN ADULT ATTACHMENT

In the present study, we examined selective attention for emotional word stimuli as a function of individual differences in attachment style. Participants completed a dot-probe task in which a general threat, attachment-related threat, general positive, or attachment-related positive word was presented together with a neutral word. Results showed that attachment anxiety and avoidance were associated with an attentional bias away from attachment threat words. This attentional avoidance effect was best predicted by the interaction between attachment anxiety and avoidance, and not by their unique main effects. The findings are discussed in relation to attachment theory and the general literature on attentional biases. 1 Based on Dewitte, M., Koster, E. H. W., De Houwer, J., & Buysse, A. (2007). Attentive processing of threat and adult attachment: A dot-probe study. Behaviour Research and Therapy, 45, 1307-1317.