ADULT ATTACHMENT STYLE AND PARTNER CHOICE - CORRELATIONAL AND EXPERIMENTAL FINDINGS

Three studies were conducted to assess the role of attachment style in partner selection using both correlational and experimental methods. Study 1 (n = 83 couples) assessed correlations between partner ratings on attachment-style dimensions and the relations between own and part ner attachment style and relationship satisfaction. In Study 2 (n = 22 6) and Study 3 (n = 146), participants who varied in terms of attachme nt style rated the desirability of potential partners who also differe d in terms of attachment style. Results of all three studies generally suggested that individuals were most attracted to partners with simil ar attachment styles. For example, anxious individuals tended to be da ting anxious partners in Study 1; and they preferred anxious partners over secure and avoidant partners in Studies 2 and 3 (combined data). Thus, not all individuals preferred secure partners. Second, unlike pr evious studies that looked primarily at partner correlations, there wa s no evidence of anxious/avoidant matching. In fact, anxious individua ls seemed particularly averse to avoidant partners. Finally ratings of parental caregiving styles (especially ratings of mothers) were assoc iated with adult attachment dimensions and partner choices. For exampl e, individuals who rated their mothers as more cold and ambivalent wer e less attracted to secure partners. Clinical and research implication s are discussed.