Your responses guide me: Decreased attachment anxiety through an online relationship-building paradigm
Author(s) / Creator(s)
Johnson, Benjamin N.
Bliwise, Nancy G.
Abstract / Description
This study aims to improve self-reported attachment anxiety and avoidance through an online relationship-building paradigm. Seventy-seven undergraduate participants completed an online attachment-focused paradigm in which they developed a relationship with a virtual partner, and fifty participants successfully completed a second laboratory-based phase of the study. During the online phase, all participants completed the Experiences in Close Relationships―Revised questionnaire (ECR-R), the experimental group engaged in an interactive relationship-formation story with a virtual partner designed to enhance secure attachment, and control participants engaged in the program without guidance. Participants then visited the laboratory, were asked to recall the online interaction, and again completed the ECR-R. Overall, participants exhibited a significant decrease in their attachment anxiety, but not avoidance; however, change in attachment security did not differ based on study group. Change in the experimental condition was attributed to the secure focus of the guided interaction with the virtual partner. Change in the control condition, on the other hand, was attributed to general relationship practice and behavioral principles of operant conditioning. These results provide preliminary evidence for the effect of a virtual practice relationship on attitudes towards real-life attachments to significant others.
Keyword(s)
anxiety attachment avatar avoidance online relationshipsPersistent Identifier
Date of first publication
2017-10-20
Journal title
Interpersona: An International Journal on Personal Relationships
Volume
11
Issue
1
Page numbers
1–21
Publisher
PsychOpen GOLD
Publication status
publishedVersion
Review status
peerReviewed
Is version of
Citation
Johnson, B. N., & Bliwise, N. G. (2017). Your responses guide me: Decreased attachment anxiety through an online relationship-building paradigm. Interpersona: An International Journal on Personal Relationships, 11(1), 1–21. https://doi.org/10.5964/ijpr.v11i1.254
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ijpr.v11i1.254.pdfAdobe PDF - 745.25KBMD5: 6d740c5267827e9eb09ea801e59f714a
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There are no other versions of this object.
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Author(s) / Creator(s)Johnson, Benjamin N.
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Author(s) / Creator(s)Bliwise, Nancy G.
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PsychArchives acquisition timestamp2018-12-05T08:44:20Z
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Made available on2018-12-05T08:44:20Z
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Date of first publication2017-10-20
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Abstract / DescriptionThis study aims to improve self-reported attachment anxiety and avoidance through an online relationship-building paradigm. Seventy-seven undergraduate participants completed an online attachment-focused paradigm in which they developed a relationship with a virtual partner, and fifty participants successfully completed a second laboratory-based phase of the study. During the online phase, all participants completed the Experiences in Close Relationships―Revised questionnaire (ECR-R), the experimental group engaged in an interactive relationship-formation story with a virtual partner designed to enhance secure attachment, and control participants engaged in the program without guidance. Participants then visited the laboratory, were asked to recall the online interaction, and again completed the ECR-R. Overall, participants exhibited a significant decrease in their attachment anxiety, but not avoidance; however, change in attachment security did not differ based on study group. Change in the experimental condition was attributed to the secure focus of the guided interaction with the virtual partner. Change in the control condition, on the other hand, was attributed to general relationship practice and behavioral principles of operant conditioning. These results provide preliminary evidence for the effect of a virtual practice relationship on attitudes towards real-life attachments to significant others.en_US
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Publication statuspublishedVersion
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Review statuspeerReviewed
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CitationJohnson, B. N., & Bliwise, N. G. (2017). Your responses guide me: Decreased attachment anxiety through an online relationship-building paradigm. Interpersona: An International Journal on Personal Relationships, 11(1), 1–21. https://doi.org/10.5964/ijpr.v11i1.254en_US
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ISSN1981-6472
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Persistent Identifierhttps://hdl.handle.net/20.500.12034/1762
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Persistent Identifierhttps://doi.org/10.23668/psycharchives.2128
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Language of contenteng
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PublisherPsychOpen GOLD
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Is version ofhttps://doi.org/10.5964/ijpr.v11i1.254
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Keyword(s)anxietyen_US
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Keyword(s)attachmenten_US
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Keyword(s)avataren_US
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Keyword(s)avoidanceen_US
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Keyword(s)onlineen_US
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Keyword(s)relationshipsen_US
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Dewey Decimal Classification number(s)150
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TitleYour responses guide me: Decreased attachment anxiety through an online relationship-building paradigmen_US
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DRO typearticle
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Issue1
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Journal titleInterpersona: An International Journal on Personal Relationships
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Page numbers1–21
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Volume11
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Visible tag(s)Version of Record