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Testing a dual-process model of avoidant defenses
•Avoidant individuals disengaged from contempt faces presented for 750ms.•Under a cognitive load, avoidant individuals increased attention to contempt faces.•Avoidant individual’s ability to disengage from contempt faces requires mental effort. Research suggests that the defensive strategy used by p...
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Published in: | Journal of research in personality 2015-04, Vol.55, p.75-83 |
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Main Authors: | , , , , |
Format: | Article |
Language: | English |
Subjects: | |
Citations: | Items that this one cites Items that cite this one |
Online Access: | Get full text |
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Summary: | •Avoidant individuals disengaged from contempt faces presented for 750ms.•Under a cognitive load, avoidant individuals increased attention to contempt faces.•Avoidant individual’s ability to disengage from contempt faces requires mental effort.
Research suggests that the defensive strategy used by people who score high on attachment-related avoidance when they encounter interpersonal threats involves two stages: automatic vigilance followed by effortful avoidance. In two studies we varied stimulus exposure times and cognitive load to determine how attention is regulated by avoidant individuals. Results indicate that avoidant individuals were vigilant toward contempt faces when the faces were presented for 100ms but quickly disengaged from them when the faces were presented for 750ms. Moreover, avoidant participants could disengage from contempt faces presented for 750ms while rehearsing a simple 1-digit number, but not when rehearsing a 7-digit number, suggesting that avoidant disengagement is a cognitively effortful process. Theoretical and practical implications are discussed. |
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ISSN: | 0092-6566 1095-7251 |
DOI: | 10.1016/j.jrp.2015.02.002 |