The Contribution of Attachment Style and Relationship Conflict to the Complexity of Relationship Knowledge

Abstract

Individuals preoccupied with attachment chronically desire a high level of intimacy and responsiveness from relationship partners. Conflict may provide an opportunity to meet these goals because it may force partners to respond to each other. The present study tested the prediction that, for higher conflict relationships, preoccupied individuals would be more likely than other individuals to hold complex knowledge about positive aspects of the relationship, and that all individuals would hold more complex knowledge about negative aspects. Participants, selected on the basis of their attachment style (e.g., secure, preoccupied, dismissing-avoidant), performed a complexity task in which they sorted and organized information about their romantic relationship. Findings were consistent with the hypothesis, suggesting that preoccupied individuals may notice not only the negative side of conflict, but also its more positive, intimacy-promoting aspects. These findings underscore the importance of taking into account interpersonal goals when evaluating the impact of interpersonal experiences.