Imagine me and you, I do : associations between adult romantic attachment styles and imagined interactions

Abstract

This study evaluates associations between adult attachment style and imagined interactions within romantic relationships. One’s internal working model of concept of self and concept of other develop from the primary attachment relationship, which develops into one of four adult attachment styles; secure, preoccupied, dismissing, and fearful. A significant attachment figure for adults is the romantic partner, allowing for specified categories of adult romantic attachment. While the literature regarding attachment style is exhaustive, comparisons among each of the four attachment styles in terms of imagined interactions with the romantic partner acting as the other is a novel endeavor. Significance emerged between the adult romantic attachment styles on three characteristics of imagined interactions: discrepancy, variety, and valence.