Fear May Lead To Valentine's Day Loneliness, Research Shows
February 10, 2000
Philadelphia -- In many cases, those without a Valentine's sweetheart may be their own worst enemy when it comes to finding that special someone, according to a Penn State researcher.
Jamila Bookwala, a psychology professor at Penn State Abington near Philadelphia who specializes in the study of aggression and attachment styles in relationships, studied 161 undergraduate students of both sexes recently to determine how their attachment style affects the way they approach relationships with the opposite sex. They were asked to rate themselves based on the following qualities:
** Secure: those who view themselves and their partner in a positive light; enjoy close relationships; are comfortable with intimacy.
** Dismissing: those who view themselves positively but not others; do not feel a need for close, intimate relationships.
** Preoccupied: those who view themselves negatively but view partners positively; have low self- esteem; seek to form intimate relationships but feel threatened about losing the partner; see the partner as less emotionally involved in the relationship than they would like.
** Fearful: those who view themselves and the partner negatively; have difficulty trusting others; are uncomfortable with intimacy and fear that it will eventually lead to hurt and disappointment.
Bookwala found that respondents who identified themselves more with having a "fearful" attachment style were the least likely to be involved in a serious dating relationship, while those respondents who identified more with having a "secure" attachment style were at the opposite end of the romantic spectrum.
"By indicating that fearful individuals -- who are described as being uncomfortable in close relationships, and fearing hurt and rejection in closer relationships -- are indeed likely to avoid becoming involved in serious romantic relationships, the current data serve to further validate attachment theory," Bookwala said.
The Penn State researcher will present the findings of her study, "Adult Attachment Styles and Current Relationship Status," next month at the annual meeting of the Eastern Psychological Association annual meeting in Baltimore.
