Attachment Security Priming, Exploration and Energy

Abstract

In the current thesis, I directly (study a) and conceptually (study b) replicated the second study published by Luke, Sedikides, and Carnelly (2012) by using the experimental methodology, where they found a significant relationship between attachment security priming and the sense of energy and the exploration. I used convenience sampling to collect data online, and the samples across two studies (NStudyA=281; NStudyB=195) mainly consisted of undergraduate university students. According to the results, there was no empirical support for the mediator role of the energy in the association between secure relationship priming and the sense of exploration. Additionally, energy feeling resulting from the secure relationship priming procedure was not statistically higher than those in the control condition. However, results revealed that secure relationship priming increased people's self-reported sense of security and exploration feelings across two studies. I also found mixed findings regarding the moderator role of the attachment dimensions in the relationship between primings and the exploration measures. Finally, the clarity and vividness of participants' visualizations have significantly explained the variance in the self-report form of exploration. I concluded that I have partially replicated the original article findings’ in my direct replication study.Similarly, I have observed partial support for my hypotheses in the conceptual replication. I discussed modifications I have made in the conceptual replication and their implications for attachment security priming studies. Then, I referred to the possible factors that might cause variances in replication studies in general. Lastly, I addressed the concerns related to the operational definitions of energy and the exploration of studies using similar methodologies.