Abstract

This study examined the individual difference of adult attachment style and the psychological characteristics according to adult attachment style in a survey study involving 356 undergraduate students. The results showed that there were significant individual differences in attachment quality and in cognitive characteristics according to each attachment style. Secure attachment style associated with greater relationship interdependability and intimacy than did the anxious-ambivalent or avoidant attachment style. Avoidant attachment style associated less with relationship interdependability than did the secure attachment style. Anxious-ambivalent attachment style associated with greater relationship anxiety than did the other attachment styles. Attachment dimensions were found to be related to relationship beliefs on intimacy and individuality, self-esteem, and locus of control. Compared with secure, avoidant styles, the anxious-ambivalent style didn't attribute positive events to more stable causes and tended to attribute negative events to more stable causes;they also attributed negative events to more global causes. Suggestions and limitations of this study, and the directions for future study were discussed.