Date of Award

Spring 2000

Document Type

Thesis

Degree Name

Master of Science (MS)

Department

Psychology

Program/Concentration

Psychology

Committee Director

Robin J. Lewis

Committee Member

Valerian J. Derlega

Committee Member

Peter J. Mikulka

Call Number for Print

Special Collections LD4331.P65 H43

Abstract

Adult attachment styles can be thought of as representational schemata for how an individual interprets other people's actions, relationships, and emotions in close relationships. This study utilized an emotional Stroop task that consisted of different word/letter stimuli to investigate the effect of attentional biasing, in the form of the interference effect, on reaction times. Five measures of adult attachment were used that varied based on whether attachment was categorized or placed on a dimension. Contrary to expectation, insecurely attached individuals did not have longer reaction times on negative stimuli; however, negative word stimuli did cause an interference effect relative to neutral and letter string stimuli for all participants. A sentence completion priming task which allowed for self-relevant relationship priming was also administered. No differences on reaction times were found for participants who were primed and participants who were not primed. Although a relationship between adult attachment style and attentional biasing on the Stroop was not found, further research is necessary.

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In Copyright. URI: http://rightsstatements.org/vocab/InC/1.0/ This Item is protected by copyright and/or related rights. You are free to use this Item in any way that is permitted by the copyright and related rights legislation that applies to your use. For other uses you need to obtain permission from the rights-holder(s).

DOI

10.25777/xzj5-t775

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