Love and School: Attachment/Exploration Dynamics in College

Abstract

Two studies tested the hypothesis that secure attachment facilitates exploration at college. Also, these studies examined how types of insecure attachment differentially predict exploration. In Study 1, 200 undergraduates completed self-report measures of attachment and exploration. In Study 2, 69 undergraduates completed these same measures, and two tasks that measured exploratory behavior. Ratings of attachment styles were differentially related to self-reports of exploration (e.g., security was related to curiosity and comfort with academic social interactions, whereas preoccupation and fearfulness were related to anxiety about academic performance). Sex differences were found in exploratory behavior. For males, dismissiveness and general insecurity were correlated with low levels of exploration of novel objects and relationship information. Anxiousness was correlated with low levels of exploration of novel objects and high levels of exploration of relationship information. For females, dismissiveness was correlated with low levels of exploration of relationship information.