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Mapping the Intimate Relationship Mind: Comparisons between Three Models of Attachment Representations

University of Canterbury, nco18{at}it.canterbury.ac.nz

Garth J. O. Fletcher

University of Canterbury, Garth.Fletcher{at}canterbury.ac.nz

Myron D. Friesen

University of Canterbury

This study compared three models of how attachment working models might be cognitively represented. Model 1 posits that attachment representations consist of a single global working model summarizing attachment across specific relationships and domains. Model 2 proposes three independent working models for the relationship domains of family, platonic friendships, and romantic partners. Model 3 postulates that specific relationship models are nested under relationship domain representations that are, in turn, nested under an overarching global working model. Participants completed standard attachment scales for the relationship domains of family, platonic friendships, and romantic partners and also provided attachment ratings for three specific relationships within each domain. As expected, confirmatory factor analyses showed that Model 3 attained the best fit, regardless of analysis strategy, measurement strategy, gender, and relationship status. Implications are discussed.

Key Words: attachment • working models • relationships • domains • representations

Personality and Social Psychology Bulletin, Vol. 29, No. 12, 1479-1493 (2003)
DOI: 10.1177/0146167203251519


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