Nonverbal involvement, expressiveness, and pleasantness as predicted by parental and partner attachment style

Abstract

This work argues that individuals’ attachment styles combine with that of their partners’ to create approach and avoidance tendencies and ensuing nonverbal involvement style during interactions with their significant others. Specifically, while secures are expected to be moderately involved, expressive, and pleasant, preoccupieds are expected to be highly so, while avoidants are the least involved. In combination with partner style, however, dismissive avoidants paired with preoccupieds are expected to be the very least involved, while secures paired with secures are expected to be moderately involved, and preoccupieds paired with dismissive avoidants are expected to be the very most involved of all the romantic partners in the current investigation. Results support the contention that parental and partner attachment are both important in predicting approach and avoidance in that role‐reversed females paired with avoidant partners were less kinesically and vocally involved and less kinesically pleasant. Further, females with preoccupied partners reciprocated levels of involvement, in that they exhibited greater kinesic involvement, expressiveness, and pleasantness when interacting with their romantic partners. Additionally, role‐reversed females with more secure partners exhibited greater vocal expressiveness. Finally, and most consistent with current theorizing, role‐reversed males paired with preoccupied partners exhibited less kinesic involvement and pleasantness.