Article Version of Record

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 relationships

Persistent 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
  • Author(s) / Creator(s)
    Johnson, Benjamin N.
  • Author(s) / Creator(s)
    Bliwise, Nancy G.
  • PsychArchives acquisition timestamp
    2018-12-05T08:44:20Z
  • Made available on
    2018-12-05T08:44:20Z
  • Date of first publication
    2017-10-20
  • 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.
    en_US
  • Publication status
    publishedVersion
  • Review status
    peerReviewed
  • 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
    en_US
  • ISSN
    1981-6472
  • Persistent Identifier
    https://hdl.handle.net/20.500.12034/1762
  • Persistent Identifier
    https://doi.org/10.23668/psycharchives.2128
  • Language of content
    eng
  • Publisher
    PsychOpen GOLD
  • Is version of
    https://doi.org/10.5964/ijpr.v11i1.254
  • Keyword(s)
    anxiety
    en_US
  • Keyword(s)
    attachment
    en_US
  • Keyword(s)
    avatar
    en_US
  • Keyword(s)
    avoidance
    en_US
  • Keyword(s)
    online
    en_US
  • Keyword(s)
    relationships
    en_US
  • Dewey Decimal Classification number(s)
    150
  • Title
    Your responses guide me: Decreased attachment anxiety through an online relationship-building paradigm
    en_US
  • DRO type
    article
  • Issue
    1
  • Journal title
    Interpersona: An International Journal on Personal Relationships
  • Page numbers
    1–21
  • Volume
    11
  • Visible tag(s)
    Version of Record