Guerrero, L. K., & Bachman, G. F. (2006). Associations among relational maintenance behaviors, attachment-style categories, and attachment dimensions. Communication Studies, 57(3), 341-361.
Guerrero and Bachman conducted a study to determine the relationship between secure/insecure individuals and their attachment styles in romantic relationships. 189 couples participated in this study, they each completed questionnaires and the results were compiled; the results suggest an association between romantic affection and an individuals personal attachment-styles. The attachment theory used in this study is that people think and act towards others in personal relationships based on how they think and feel about themselves. It is suggested that these feelings towards oneself are developed as a baby as a result of the contact with their caregiver. Guerrero and Bachman’s attachment theory suggests that people’s behavior is guided by their perceptions of themselves. Hypothesis 1 for the study is; secure individuals report using more prosocial maintenance than dismissive individuals. Research question 1 states; are there other attachment-style differences in prosocial maintenance behaviors as a function of an individual’s own attachment style? Research question 2 is; are there differences in reported use of prosocial maintenance behaviors based on one’s partner’s attachment style? Hypothesis 2 says; one’s own level of (a) anxiety and (b) avoidance associates negatively with prosocial maintenance. Lastly, research question 3 is; does one’s partner’s level of (a) anxiety or (b) avoidance associate with a person’s reported use of relational maintenance? The degree of relational involvement of the 189 couples that participated was; 78.6% dating, 12.4% engaged, and 21.4% married. The results of the questionnaire stated that the attachment