Priming relational schemas: Effects of contextually activated and chronically accessible interpersonal expectations on responses to a stressful event

The authors used a relational schemas approach to test the effects of inter personal expectations on responses to a stressful event. In Study I, a subl iminal priming technique was used to demonstrate the causal influence of ex perimentally activated interpersonal expectations on affect, support seekin g, and coping responses to a hypothetical unplanned pregnancy. Activation o f positive interpersonal expectations increased reports of seeking emotiona l support and decreased the use of self-denigrating coping. Activation of n egative interpersonal expectations decreased reports of positive affect and tended to impede growth-oriented coping. Chronically accessible interperso nal expectations, assessed by an attachment questionnaire, were also associ ated with affect, seeking of support, and coping. Study 2 undermined the po ssibility that the experimental findings obtained with this priming procedu re resulted from a mood manipulation.