Inhibition of attention to the emotional signals of his romantic partner moderates the relationship between avoidant attachment and trust

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Reference

Chaperon É, Dandeneau S, Lydon J, Pascuzzo K, Auger É. (2016). Inhibition of attention to the emotional signals of his romantic partner moderates the relationship between avoidant attachment and trust. Canadian Journal of Behavioural Science. 48(3): 246-254.

Abstract

The goal of this study was to test whether insecure attachment, in combination with a misallocated attention toward one’s partner, would influence trust in one’s partner. Forty-five couples were recruited during their visit to a bridal salon. The 2-stage study first consisted of participants completing a demographic questionnaire, measures of relationship-specific attachment and dyadic trust, and a Dot Probe task measuring their attentional bias toward their partner’s and strangers’ emotional expressions. Five months later, participants again completed the demographic questionnaire and the dyadic trust scale. The Actor-Partner Interdependence Model (Kenny, Kashy & Cook, 2006) was used with a multilevel approach (Campbell & Kashy, 2002) to examine the moderating role of attentional bias on the association between participant’s attachment and trust toward his or her partner. Results revealed that avoidant attachment in combination with an attentional inhibition of emotional information related to one’s partner predicts lower trust in their romantic partner 5 months later. The implications of this finding are discussed.

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