SNS Posts and Attachment Style
Creators: name: Stöven, Lynne
name: Ohmann, Hanno Andreas
Publisher: name: OSF Registries
Year: 2024
Subjects: subject: Applied Behavior Analysis
subject: Psychiatry and Psychology
subject: Personality and Social Contexts
subject: Medicine and Health Sciences
subject: Cognition and Perception
subject: Social and Behavioral Sciences
subject: Psychology
subject: FOS: Psychology
subject: Psychological Phenomena and Processes

description: Social networking sites (SNSs) have become ubiquitous in modern daily life (Pew Research Center, 2021). Unlike traditional mass media platforms, SNSs facilitate reciprocal interaction, allowing users to serve both as consumers and creators of content. Among the myriad functions offered by these platforms, commenting on other users' content stands out as particularly popular. Such interactions often carry a significant emotional charge. The emergence of social media platforms has intensified the expression of emotions and debates, frequently showcasing provocative content (Chen &amp; Ng, 2017; Coe et al., 2014; Koban et al., 2018). In response to morally charged subjects, instances of aggressive and inappropriate comments have become increasingly prevalent within online interactions. Conversely, it is essential to acknowledge that amidst the tumult of online discourse, comments can also serve as sources of support and encouragement Chen &amp; Ng, 2017).

Considering the interpersonal nature of such comments, it is imperative to recognize the significant role of attachment styles. These styles intricately shape individuals' expectations, needs, and behaviors within interpersonal dynamics (Bowlby, 1969). Governed by the attachment system, these styles determine the extent to which individuals perceive threats or security in their social interactions (Mikulincer &amp; Shaver, 2003). Stimuli, based on their valence, possess the capacity to either activate the attachment system (perceived threat) or deactivate it (perceived security). In response to an activated attachment system, individuals typically endeavor to regulate their emotions, often associated with unpleasant feelings. The strategies employed for emotion regulation vary depending on the individual's attachment style.

Attentional processes significantly influence emotion regulation, as posited by Bowlby's attachment theory. In individuals with high attachment anxiety, the hyperactivation of the attachment system often results in heightened attention towards negative social cues. Conversely, those with an avoidant attachment style tend to avoid negative social information, reflecting a strategy of disengagement from emotionally distressing stimuli (Bowlby, 1969). 
The existing research presents inconsistent findings. On the one hand, there is evidence that primarily anxious individuals, after initially displaying higher vigilance towards negative emotional information, subsequently exhibit avoidance of negative stimuli (Mogg et al., 1997). However, more recent studies have found that insecure attachment styles (anxiety and avoidance) orient their attention away from threat and negative emotional information (Dewitte &amp; Houwer, 2008; Wang et al., 2022). 
Further, studies using eye-tracking systems indicate that attachment style effects the way individuals look at emotional stimuli in order to regulate emotions (Byrow et al., 2016; Szymanska et al., 2019; Uccula et al., 2022). 

In the scope of the planned study, we seek to investigate the effects of attachment style on gazing behavior elicited by emotional SNS posts and comments.