Adult Attachment, Cognitive Appraisal, and University Students' Reactions to Romantic Infidelity

This study examined the relationships between adult attachment, cognitive appraisal, and university students' behavioral and emotional reactions to infidelity situations in romantic relationships. Results based on 173 university students suggested that both attachment and cognitive appraisals significantly predicted distinct types of infidelity reactions and that participants' cognitive appraisal mediated the effects of attachment on behavioral and emotional reactions. Counseling applications for university counselors are discussed on the basis of attachment perspectives and cognitive appraisal models. Keywords: adult attachment, cognitive appraisal, infidelity ********** Researchers suggest that up to 25% of all committed relationships experience some form of romantic infidelity (Blow & Hartnett, 2005). Infidelity can uproot grounded relationships, leave long-lasting emotional scars, and negatively influence couples' interpersonal dynamics. When facing an infidelity experience, betrayed partners are likely to experience a variety of negative emotions, such as hurt, anger, resentment, and depression (Charny & Parnass, 1995). The aftermath of infidelity often includes a loss of trust in the relationship, decreased intimacy, and direct effects on other relationships (e.g., children, friends, and parents). However, individual responses to romantic infidelity vary greatly. For instance, some people may take a more constructive approach by talking it over with their partner or even entering couples therapy to address underlying problems in their relationship. Others may choose to use passive methods to deal with the infidelity, such as denying or avoiding the incident. Others may take a more revengeful approach, such as aggressively confronting the betraying partner and doing something to get even. Various theories and models have been proposed to understand the factors and mechanisms that contribute to individuals' responses and behaviors when facing an infidelity experience. A review of the literature revealed two conceptually relevant frameworks: the attachment perspective (Bowlby, 1969) and cognitive appraisal theory (Peacock & Wong, 1990). The present study used these two theories to examine the variation of college students' reactions to romantic infidelity. The following sections provide overviews of these two theories, review relevant literature, and describe the explicit purpose of this study and the proposed hypotheses. Attachment and Infidelity Because the origin of attachment theory is related to separation and loss experienced by children, it provides a good conceptual lens through which to understand people's reactions to romantic infidelity. Attachment theory posits that the quality of childhood relationships with primary caregivers facilitates the development and maintenance of people's internal working models, which are mental representations of how people view themselves and others (Bowlby, 1969). Empirical research of adult attachment has led to a conceptual model with two orthogonal dimensions of adult attachment--anxiety and avoidance (Brennan, Clark, & Shaver, 1998)--which correspond with one's internal working models of self and others proposed in the theory. Individuals with high attachment anxiety are characterized by negative perceptions of self-worth and competence, a strong need for the approval of others, and feeling preoccupied with maintaining relationships, yet constantly fearing abandonment and rejection from others. Conversely, typical characteristics of those high in attachment avoidance include excessive desires to be self reliant; reluctance to depend on others; and negative perceptions of the goodness, trustworthiness, and dependability of others (Brennan et al., 1998). On the basis of this two-dimensional model, people with low scores on both anxiety and avoidance dimensions are considered to have secure attachment, whereas those scoring high on either or both of the dimensions are considered to have insecure attachment. …