Attachment to objects as compensation for close others' perceived unreliability

Keefer, Lucas A.; Landau, Mark J.; Rothschild, Zachary K.; Sullivan, Daniel

doi:10.1016/j.jesp.2012.02.007

Cited by 135 publications

(121 citation statements)

References 18 publications

(21 reference statements)

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“…We also found strong positive correlations between measures of object attachment and an anxious attachment style, confirming the previously reported association between insecure adult attachment and attachment to inanimate objects (Keefer et al, 2012;Norris, et al, 2012). There were also strong positive relationships between object attachment and hoarding severity and behaviours, again confirming previous research in clinical samples (Grisham et al, 2009;Nedelisky & Steele, 2009).…”

Section: Discussionsupporting

confidence: 90%

“…Previous research has suggested that an insecure attachment style (anxious or avoidant) may be associated with greater attachment to objects rather than people (Keefer et al, 2012;Norris et al, 2012), and thus may well be associated with hoarding. We found that individuals with anxious and avoidant attachment styles, and with higher scores on maternal anxiety and avoidance did indeed score higher on the hoarding measures.…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…Research has suggested that those displaying insecure attachment may utilise alternative strategies to promote substitute attachments, predominately, attachment to objects (Norris, Lambert, DeWall & Fincham, 2012). Keefer, Landau, Rothschild and Sullivan (2012) reinforced this finding, stating that when attachment security is threatened, a compensatory response is to attach to non-human targets, specifically inanimate objects, as a neutral target to avoid rejection. Despite the apparent connection between an individual's attachment style and their subsequent attachment to objects, little research has explored the relationship of both interpersonal attachment and attachment to objects, toward the prediction of hoarding tendencies.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 98%

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The role of attachment style and anthropomorphism in predicting hoarding behaviours in a non-clinical sample

Neave

Tyson

McInnes

et al. 2016

Personality and Individual Differences

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Northumbria University has developed Northumbria Research Link (NRL) to enable users to access the University's research output. Copyright © and moral rights for items on NRL are retained by the individual author(s) and/or other copyright owners. Single copies of full items can be reproduced, displayed or performed, and given to third parties in any format or medium for personal research or study, educational, or not-for-profit purposes without prior permission or charge, provided the authors, title and full bibliographic details are given, as well as a hyperlink and/or URL to the original metadata page. The content must not be changed in any way. Full items must not be sold commercially in any format or medium without formal permission of the copyright holder. The full policy is available online: http://nrl.northumbria.ac.uk/policies.html This document may differ from the final, published version of the research and has been made available online in accordance with publisher policies. To read and/or cite from the published version of the research, please visit the publisher's website (a subscription may be required.)The role of attachment style and anthropomorphism in predicting hoarding behaviours in a non-clinical sample. AbstractHoarding behaviours are characterised by the acquisition of and failure to discard possessions which leads to excessive and often dangerous clutter and significant psychological/emotional distress. The cognitive behavioural-model posits that a key aspect in the expression of hoarding tendencies is an excessive attachment to objects. Research indicates that attachment style and anthropomorphic tendencies are associated with excessive object attachment and subsequent hoarding. In this study, a non-clinical sample of 283 participants (210 female) completed questionnaires measuring adult attachment styles, attachment to objects, anthropomorphic tendencies, and hoarding severity and behaviours. Females displayed significantly higher scores on hoarding severity, anxious and avoidant attachments, and on anthropomorphism. Strong positive correlations were found between measures of inanimate object attachment, adult attachment style, and anthropomorphism, with hoarding behaviours and cognitions. Subsequent regression analyses revealed that one measure of adult attachment (degree of anxious attachment) and object attachment were significant predictors of hoarding behaviours and cognitions.

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Section: Discussionsupporting

confidence: 90%

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 98%

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The role of attachment style and anthropomorphism in predicting hoarding behaviours in a non-clinical sample

Neave

Tyson

McInnes

et al. 2016

Personality and Individual Differences

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“…Likewise, people who recalled recent instances of being socially excluded felt more attached to their belongings for reasons of "reassurance and comfort" (Clark et al 2011;Keefer et al 2012). In a representative survey, tendencies to experience social insecurity were associated with higher levels of materialism (Rindfleisch, Burroughs, and Wong 2009).…”

Section: Loneliness: Coping Through Materials Relationshipsmentioning

confidence: 99%

Bidirectional Dynamics of Materialism and Loneliness: Not Just a Vicious Cycle

2013

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This research is the first to test the hypothesis that consumers face a "material trap" in which materialism fosters social isolation which in turn reinforces materialism. It provides evidence that materialism and loneliness are engaged in bidirectional relationships over time. Importantly, it finds that loneliness contributes more to materialism than the other way around. Moreover, it finds that materialism's contribution to loneliness is not uniformly vicious but critically differs between specific subtypes of materialism. That is, valuing possessions as a happiness medicine or as a success measure increased loneliness, and these subtypes also increased most due to loneliness. Yet seeking possessions for material mirth decreased loneliness and was unaffected by it. These findings are based on longitudinal data from over 2,500 consumers across 6 years and a new latent growth model. They reveal how materialism and loneliness form a self-perpetuating vicious and virtuous cycle depending on the materialism subtype.

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“…Meanwhile, Keefer et al (2012) suggest that handheld devices can provide a sense of comfort and familiarity in situations of unfamiliarity. While such studies are beneficial, they regularly situate the phone as a mediating object that facilitates relationships between individuals.…”

Section: Observation 3: On the Busmentioning

confidence: 99%

The 'mastery' of the swipe: Smartphones, transitional objects and interstitial time

Mowlabocus¹

2016

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The 'mastery' of the swipe: smartphones, transitional objects and interstitial time Article (Accepted Version) http://sro.sussex.ac.uk Mowlabocus, Sharif (2016) The 'mastery' of the swipe: smartphones, transitional objects and interstitial time. Copyright and reuse:Sussex Research Online is a digital repository of the research output of the University.Copyright and all moral rights to the version of the paper presented here belong to the individual author(s) and/or other copyright owners. To the extent reasonable and practicable, the material made available in SRO has been checked for eligibility before being made available.Copies of full text items generally can be reproduced, displayed or performed and given to third parties in any format or medium for personal research or study, educational, or not-for-profit purposes without prior permission or charge, provided that the authors, title and full bibliographic details are credited, a hyperlink and/or URL is given for the original metadata page and the content is not changed in any way. 1The 'Mastery' of the Swipe: Smartphones, Transitional Objects and Interstitial Time Sharif Mowlabocus AbstractHave you ever noticed people using their smartphones while waiting for the train? Or people reaching for their phones when suddenly alone in a restaurant? Or people staring intently at their screens before a meeting begins? In this article I seek to establish a dialogue between two critical methodologies-psychoanalysis and critical political-economy-in order to consider the role of this form of 'distracted' smartphone use in everyday life. The aim of this discussion is to broaden our understanding of 'mundane' phone use and suggest a way of conceptualising this behaviour at both an individual level and at the level of society.

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Attachment to objects as compensation for close others' perceived unreliability

Cited by 135 publications

References 18 publications

The role of attachment style and anthropomorphism in predicting hoarding behaviours in a non-clinical sample

The role of attachment style and anthropomorphism in predicting hoarding behaviours in a non-clinical sample

Bidirectional Dynamics of Materialism and Loneliness: Not Just a Vicious Cycle

The 'mastery' of the swipe: Smartphones, transitional objects and interstitial time

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