Attachment style and the mental representation of the self

Abstract

Six studies examined the association between attachment style and several aspects of the mental representation of the self in adolescents. Studies 1 and 2 focused on the hedonic tone of the self-structure, Studies 3 and 4 focused on its complexity, and Studies 5 and 6 focused on discrepancies between domains and standpoints of the self. Results indicated that secure and avoidant persons had a more positive view of themselves than anxious-ambivalent persons. In addition, secure persons were found to have a more balanced, complex, and coherent self-structure than insecure persons, either avoidant or anxious-ambivalent. The discussion emphasizes the connection between the in-ternalization of attachment experiences and the construction of the self. Research on adult attachment uses Bowlby's (1973) con-struct of working models—mental representations of attach-ment figures and the self—to explain how past interactions with significant others influence social and emotional develop-ment. Initial studies of adult attachment focused on the way people think about and behave in their relationships (e.g., Ha-zan & Shaver, 1987). The present series of studies focuses on a neglected aspect of attachment working models: the mental representation of the self