Attachment styles are usually associated with attachment to a primary
caregiver such as the mother. They include secure, anxious-ambivalent
(preoccupied) and avoidant styles of attachment. The focus of this book
is on attachment to an adult partner in a close relationship. It
examines how the combination of attachment styles to one's partner and
to one's primary caregiver is related to couples' conflict beliefs,
conflict resolution styles, satisfaction with their relationships and
communication accuracy. We conducted two studies to explore these
associations. The first study was an on-line survey. The second study
videotaped couples dealing with conflict around a major disagreement. We
found that relationship satisfaction and conflict beliefs were
influenced by specific attachment to the partner. Conversely, positive
problem solving, withdrawal and compliance were heavily influenced by
more general current conceptualizations of primary caregiver attachment.
This book is likely to be of interest to couples' counsellors and family
therapists in their understanding of how attachment styles can influence
their clients' handling of conflict.