Attachment-related perceptions of life events

Abstract

This study explored how attachment orientations are associated with perceptions of life events. Although there is evidence that life and relationship contexts have the potential to alter attachment anxiety and avoidance across the lifespan, life events often exert only modest or transient effects on attachment orientations. The current study (N=1943; Mage=19.61; 74.1% women) examined associations between attachment orientations, perceptions of whether life events might engender personality changes, and perceptions of 20 hypothetical life events across nine dimensions (e.g., emotional significance, impact, control). Individuals high in attachment anxiety perceived life events as more challenging, impactful, emotionally significant, unpredictable, negative, and likely to alter their worldview and negatively affect their social status—viewing them as likely to induce personality changes. Conversely, individuals high in attachment avoidance minimized life events’ potential effects, perceiving them as less significant and less likely to alter personality. Future research could further examine whether attachment orientations shift in response to life events according to perceived event characteristics.