Adult attachment and working models of emotion

Abstract

The Self-Confrontation Method (SCM; Hermans & Hermans-Jansen, 1995 Hermans, HJM and Hermans-Jansen, E. 1995. Self-narratives: The construction of meaning in psychotherapy, New York: Guilford. [Google Scholar]) was used to examine the relationship between emotional experience and attachment style in a college student sample (N = 143). Securely attached participants were found to be significantly higher in positive affective experiences while fearful participants reported significantly less positive affect. Secure and dismissing participants reported significantly more affect directed toward self-enhancement than fearful participants. Dismissing participants reported significantly less affect directed toward connectedness with others when compared to secure, preoccupied and fearful participants. The implications of these findings for attachment theory, the utility of the SCM as a research tool and counseling are discussed.