Research into the relationship between attachment quality in both children
and adults suggests links with patterns of exploration; however, exploratio
n has been operationalized differently in studies of adults and children. T
his study examined adults' patterns of exploration operationalized in terms
of novelty seeking, curiosity, and impulsivity, as in studies of children.
Analysis indicated avoidant adults reported significantly lower curiosity
than did securely attached adults, while preoccupied subjects showed no dif
ferences from either secure or avoidant groups. As in studies of children,
groups did not differ on measures of novelty seeking or impulsivity.