The Relationship Between Attachment and Depth of Experiencing During a Couple-Based, Therapy-Like Interaction

Abstract

Depth of experiencing (EXP) refers to the depth at which individuals emotionally process and engage with their internal experiences. In this study, we observationally coded EXP during a therapy-like interaction and coupled it with secondary data from 63 heterosexual couples to explore its relationship with adult attachment patterns (both self-reported and narrative/discourse). Higher self-reported attachment anxiety was associated with increased depth of experiencing when individuals discussed their own issues as well as their partner's concerns. Participants also demonstrated greater depth of experiencing when their partners reported higher levels of self-reported attachment anxiety. Conversely, individuals with high self-reported attachment avoidance exhibited lower EXP, particularly during conversations focused on their partner's issues. Narrative/discourse secure attachment was linked to higher EXP, with especially pronounced effects when male partners responded supportively during of their female partners’ issue. We discuss the implications of these findings and how attachment dynamics shape emotional engagement within couple interactions.