This Article Full Text (PDF) References Alert me when this article is cited Alert me if a correction is posted Citation Map Services Email this article to a friend Similar articles in this journal Alert me to new issues of the journal Add to Saved Citations Download to citation manager Request Permissions Request Reprints Add to My Marked Citations Citing Articles Citing Articles via HighWire Citing Articles via Google Scholar Google Scholar Articles by Shaver, P. R. Articles by Brennan, K. A. Search for Related Content PubMed Articles by Shaver, P. R. Articles by Brennan, K. A. Social Bookmarking                   What's this?

Attachment Styles and the "Big Five" Personality Traits: Their Connections with Each Other and with Romantic Relationship Outcomes

University of California, Davis

Kelly A. Brennan

University of Texas, Austin

Hazan and Shaver have identified three adult attachment styles corresponding to the infant-mother attachment patterns observed by Ainsworth and associates in the first year of life: secure, avoidant, and anxious-ambivalent. These three styles are related to a wide variety of close relationship processes and outcomes. To date, however; little research has focused on relations between attachment styles and major personality constructs. Such re-search can clarify, the nature of attachment styles and ensure that they are not simply redundant with existing constructs. The present research examined associations between attachment measures, relationship quality and outcome measures, and the 'Big Five"personality traits assessed by the NEO Personality Inventory. Attachment styles were related in theoretically predictable ways to the Big Five dimensions and especially to some of their 'facet' subscales but were not simply redundant with them. The NEO scales were generally not as powerful as the attachment style measures in predicting romantic relationship outcomes, probably because of the greater specificity of the attachment measures.

CiteULike    Connotea    Del.icio.us    Digg    Reddit    Technorati    What's this?

This article has been cited by other articles:

				D. Pincus, K. M. Fox, K. A. Perez, J. S. Turner, and A. R. McGeehan Nonlinear Dynamics of Individual and Interpersonal Conflict in an Experimental Group Small Group Research, April 1, 2008; 39(2): 150 - 178. [Abstract] [PDF]

				M. B. Donnellan, S. A. Burt, A. A. Levendosky, and K. L. Klump Genes, Personality, and Attachment in Adults: A Multivariate Behavioral Genetic Analysis Pers Soc Psychol Bull, January 1, 2008; 34(1): 3 - 16. [Abstract] [PDF]

				G. E. Birnbaum Attachment orientations, sexual functioning, and relationship satisfaction in a community sample of women Journal of Social and Personal Relationships, February 1, 2007; 24(1): 21 - 35. [Abstract] [PDF]

				N. L. Collins, M. B. Ford, A. C. Guichard, and L. M. Allard Working Models of Attachment and Attribution Processes in Intimate Relationships Pers Soc Psychol Bull, February 1, 2006; 32(2): 201 - 219. [Abstract] [PDF]

				E. C. Klohnen, J. A. Weller, S. Luo, and M. Choe Organization and Predictive Power of General and Relationship-Specific Attachment Models: One for All, and All for One? Pers Soc Psychol Bull, December 1, 2005; 31(12): 1665 - 1682. [Abstract] [PDF]

				D. P. Schmitt Is Short-Term Mating the Maladaptive Result of Insecure Attachment? A Test of Competing Evolutionary Perspectives Pers Soc Psychol Bull, June 1, 2005; 31(6): 747 - 768. [Abstract] [PDF]

				E. N. Aron, A. Aron, and K. M. Davies Adult Shyness: The Interaction of Temperamental Sensitivity and an Adverse Childhood Environment Pers Soc Psychol Bull, February 1, 2005; 31(2): 181 - 197. [Abstract] [PDF]

				P. F. Gjerde, M. Onishi, and K. S. Carlson Personality Characteristics Associated With Romantic Attachment: A Comparison of Interview and Self-Report Methodologies Pers Soc Psychol Bull, November 1, 2004; 30(11): 1402 - 1415. [Abstract] [PDF]

				L. E. Park, J. Crocker, and K. D. Mickelson Attachment Styles and Contingencies of Self-Worth Pers Soc Psychol Bull, October 1, 2004; 30(10): 1243 - 1254. [Abstract] [PDF]

				D. Davis, P. R. Shaver, and M. L. Vernon Attachment Style and Subjective Motivations for Sex Pers Soc Psychol Bull, August 1, 2004; 30(8): 1076 - 1090. [Abstract] [PDF]

				M. Diehl, S. K. Owen, and L. M. Youngblade Agency and communion attributes in adults' spontaneous self-representations. International Journal of Behavioral Development, January 1, 2004; 28: 1 - 15. [Abstract] [PDF]

				L. A. Kurdek On Being Insecure about the Assessment of Attachment Styles Journal of Social and Personal Relationships, December 1, 2002; 19(6): 811 - 834. [Abstract] [PDF]

				L. R. Ross and B. Spinner General and Specific Attachment Representations in Adulthood: Is there a Relationship? Journal of Social and Personal Relationships, December 1, 2001; 18(6): 747 - 766. [Abstract] [PDF]

				M. Onishi, P. F. Gjerde, and J. Block Personality Implications of Romantic Attachment Patterns in Young Adults: A Multi-Method, Multi-Informant Study Pers Soc Psychol Bull, September 1, 2001; 27(9): 1097 - 1110. [Abstract] [PDF]

				E. Berant, M. Mikulincer, and V. Florian Attachment Style and Mental Health: A 1-Year Follow-Up Study of Mothers of Infants with Congenital Heart Disease Pers Soc Psychol Bull, August 1, 2001; 27(8): 956 - 968. [Abstract] [PDF]

				J. B. Asendorpf and S. Wilpers Attachment Security and Available Support: Closely Linked Relationship Qualities Journal of Social and Personal Relationships, February 1, 2000; 17(1): 115 - 138. [Abstract] [PDF]

				J. B. Miller and M. Noirot Attachment Memories, Models and Information Processing Journal of Social and Personal Relationships, April 1, 1999; 16(2): 147 - 173. [Abstract] [PDF]

				K. A. Brennan and J. K. Bosson Attachment-Style Differences in Attitudes toward and Reactions to Feedback from Romantic Partners: An Exploration of the Relational Bases of Self-Esteem Pers Soc Psychol Bull, July 1, 1998; 24(7): 699 - 714. [Abstract]

				M. L. Aguilar, R. T. Kaiser, C. B. Murray, and D. J. Ozer Validation of an Adjective Q-Sort as a Measure of the Big Five Personality Structure Journal of Black Psychology, May 1, 1998; 24(2): 145 - 163. [Abstract]

				C. S. Carver Adult Attachment and Personality: Converging Evidence and a New Measure Pers Soc Psychol Bull, August 1, 1997; 23(8): 865 - 883. [Abstract]

				T. E. Becker, R. S. Billings, D. M. Eveleth, and N. W. Gilbert Validity of Scores on Three Attachment Style Scales: Exploratory and Confirmatory Evidence Educational and Psychological Measurement, June 1, 1997; 57(3): 477 - 493. [Abstract]

				P. R. Shaver, D. Papalia, C. L. Clark, L. R. Koski, M. C. Tidwell, and D. Nalbone Androgyny and Attachment Security: Two Related Models of Optimal Personality Pers Soc Psychol Bull, June 1, 1996; 22(6): 582 - 597. [Abstract]

				F. G. Lopez Contemporary Attachment Theory: An Introduction with Implications for Counseling Psychology The Counseling Psychologist, July 1, 1995; 23(3): 395 - 415. [Abstract]

				K. A. Brennan and P. R. Shaver Dimensions of Adult Attachment, Affect Regulation, and Romantic Relationship Functioning Pers Soc Psychol Bull, March 1, 1995; 21(3): 267 - 283. [Abstract]

				E. S. Duggan and K. A. Brennan Social Avoidance and its Relation to Bartholomew's Adult Attachment Typology Journal of Social and Personal Relationships, February 1, 1994; 11(1): 147 - 153. [Abstract]