Yuanxiao Ma, Wenshuang Long, Guangzeng Liu, Haijing Ma
{"title":"Boosting attachment security promotes giving behaviour in higher attachment anxiety","authors":"Yuanxiao Ma, Wenshuang Long, Guangzeng Liu, Haijing Ma","doi":"10.1080/00049530.2021.1974800","DOIUrl":null,"url":null,"abstract":"ABSTRACT Objective The sense of attachment security is believed to be positively associated with altruistic behaviour. Based on this notion, this study investigated whether boosting attachment security increases people’s giving behaviour and examined the moderating role of attachment styles. Method To this end, a 30-day security priming training (using multi-method approaches) was conducted to validate these assumptions. Sixty-six participants were randomly assigned to either the security or the neutral priming training group. The dictator game (DG) was adopted as a measure of altruism, and each participant was required to complete a DG before and after the priming training. Results The results indicated that participants who experienced security priming training exhibited more giving behaviour in DG. Moreover, the boosting effect of this training was more evident in participants with high attachment anxiety. Conclusion These findings enhance our understanding about the different susceptibility of attachment insecurities to security priming and further validate the causal link between attachment security and altruism. KEY POINTS What is already known about this topic: Attachment security was associated with higher altruistic behavior. Attachment insecurities (anxiety and avoidance) were thought to impede altruism. Feelings of attachment security could be improved by security priming training. What this topic adds: Security priming training could effectively improve participant’s giving behavior. The boosting effect of security priming training was more obvious in participants with high attachment anxiety. Empathy is contagious; therefore, in social life, whatever role you play, being sensitive and supportive will always help!","PeriodicalId":8871,"journal":{"name":"Australian Journal of Psychology","volume":"73 1","pages":"452 - 461"},"PeriodicalIF":3.6000,"publicationDate":"2021-09-08","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":"0","resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":null,"PeriodicalName":"Australian Journal of Psychology","FirstCategoryId":"102","ListUrlMain":"https://doi.org/10.1080/00049530.2021.1974800","RegionNum":4,"RegionCategory":"心理学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":null,"EPubDate":"","PubModel":"","JCR":"Q1","JCRName":"PSYCHOLOGY, MULTIDISCIPLINARY","Score":null,"Total":0}
引用次数: 0
Abstract
ABSTRACT Objective The sense of attachment security is believed to be positively associated with altruistic behaviour. Based on this notion, this study investigated whether boosting attachment security increases people’s giving behaviour and examined the moderating role of attachment styles. Method To this end, a 30-day security priming training (using multi-method approaches) was conducted to validate these assumptions. Sixty-six participants were randomly assigned to either the security or the neutral priming training group. The dictator game (DG) was adopted as a measure of altruism, and each participant was required to complete a DG before and after the priming training. Results The results indicated that participants who experienced security priming training exhibited more giving behaviour in DG. Moreover, the boosting effect of this training was more evident in participants with high attachment anxiety. Conclusion These findings enhance our understanding about the different susceptibility of attachment insecurities to security priming and further validate the causal link between attachment security and altruism. KEY POINTS What is already known about this topic: Attachment security was associated with higher altruistic behavior. Attachment insecurities (anxiety and avoidance) were thought to impede altruism. Feelings of attachment security could be improved by security priming training. What this topic adds: Security priming training could effectively improve participant’s giving behavior. The boosting effect of security priming training was more obvious in participants with high attachment anxiety. Empathy is contagious; therefore, in social life, whatever role you play, being sensitive and supportive will always help!
期刊介绍:
Australian Journal of Psychology is the premier scientific journal of the Australian Psychological Society. It covers the entire spectrum of psychological research and receives articles on all topics within the broad scope of the discipline. The journal publishes high quality peer-reviewed articles with reviewers and associate editors providing detailed assistance to authors to reach publication. The journal publishes reports of experimental and survey studies, including reports of qualitative investigations, on pure and applied topics in the field of psychology. Articles on clinical psychology or on the professional concerns of applied psychology should be submitted to our sister journals, Australian Psychologist or Clinical Psychologist. The journal publishes occasional reviews of specific topics, theoretical pieces and commentaries on methodological issues. There are also solicited book reviews and comments Annual special issues devoted to a single topic, and guest edited by a specialist editor, are published. The journal regards itself as international in vision and will accept submissions from psychologists in all countries.