Attachment, Self-Esteem, Worldviews, and Terror Management: Evidence for a Tripartite Security System.

Abstract

On the basis of prior work integrating attachment theory and terror management theory, the authors propose a model of a tripartite security system consisting of dynamically interrelated attachment, self-esteem, and worldview processes. Four studies are presented that, combined with existing evidence, support the prediction derived from the model that threats to one component of the security system result in compensatory defensive activation of other components. Further, the authors predicted and found that individual differences in attachment style moderate the defenses. In Studies 1 and 2, attachment threats motivated worldview defense among anxiously attached participants and motivated self-enhancement (especially among avoidant participants), effects similar to those caused by mortality salience. In Studies 3 and 4, a worldview threat and a self-esteem threat caused attachment-related proximity seeking among fearful participants and avoidance of proximity among dismissing participants. The authors' model provides an overarching framework within which to study attachment, self-esteem, and worldviews.

Self-esteem reactions to social interactions: Evidence for sociometer mechanisms across days, people, and nations.

“…By comparison, relationships with one's closest friend may not require frequent episodes of "seeing and being seen" because a sense of mutual commitment may be sufficiently communicated by frequent indirect contacts (e.g., short text messages, phone calls, so on) While speculative, a possible implication of the latter finding would be that there are different sociometer systems (Kirkpatrick & Ellis, 2001): one monitoring the degree of social inclusion by one's closest relationship partners (e.g., best friends, committed romantic partners) and another monitoring the degree of inclusion by less-close partners (e.g., peripheral friends, uncommitted sexual partners). These two monitoring systems might be best conceptualized as compensatory parts of an overall security system (Hart, Shaver, & Goldenberg, 2005;Srivastava & Beer, 2005), motivated by the fundamental human need to belong (Baumeister & Leary, 1995). Thus, both the availability of close others and the quantity of social interactions with less-close acquaintances may be related to SE.…”

Shaping the Relative Importance of Needs from Recent to Early Autobiographical Experiences

“…Indeed, this finding would be perfectly consistent with the "securitythreat compensation" purpose of attachment systems of relatedness. In classic attachment models, as well as contemporary security systems models (Hart et al 2005), the attachment system of relatedness is activated by salient initial security threats and, in turn, resolves security threats when relatedness experiences are attained. Thus, the initial rise in security salience at T1 in the distressing (vs. satisfying) group may have activated attachment processes to engage in a biased motivated search that resolved salient security concerns at T2 by enhancing salient relatedness/attachment experiences in one's earliest life memories at T2.…”

“…Regarding similarities to Maslow's original model, the reduced pyramid assumes that basic physiological and security needs must be satisfied before one can pursue higher level needs (Hart et al 2005). Moreover, these models define physiological and psychological security as deficit needs whose satisfaction predicts minimization of distress rather than the enhancement of well-being (Wahbah and Bridwell 1976).…”

Neurobiology, Moral Education and Moral Self-Authorship

“…For example, Caldji, Diorio, & Meaney (2003) found that the brains of infant rats subjected to stress from poor parental care are permanently altered in neurotransmitter function. Those with poor attachment or stressed emotional systems are more likely to exhibit aggression or withdrawal as a normal mode of self protection, affecting moral behavior (Hart, Shaver & Goldenberg, 2005).…”