Attachment memories, models and information processing

Working models of attachment are considered key mediators of responses to a ttachment-related events, but relatively little research examines their dir ective influence. In this study we investigated the dynamics of working mod els by means of a memory paradigm. Participants were tested for attachment orientation and several weeks later read an attachment-related story, perfo rmed an attachment-unrelated task, and took a cued-recall test about the st ory. They were additionally primed by the writing of supportive or rejectin g friendship experiences either before reading the story or afterwards. Res ults provided evidence for two types of information processing effects, att achment-schematic information processing and attachment-related constraints on information processing capacity. Secure attachment was associated with better recall of positive story events when participants were primed by rej ecting memories before the story. Fearful attachment was associated with be tter recall of negative story events, when participants were primed by eith er rejecting or supportive memories before the story. Fearful attachment wa s associated with impaired performance on the attachment-unrelated task, wh en participants were primed by rejecting memories prior to executing the ta sk.