Attachment Theory and Concern for Others'Welfare: Evidence That Activation of the Sense of Secure Base Promotes Endorsement of Self-Transcendence Values
Mario Mikulincer, Omri Gillath, Yael Sapir-Lavid, Erez Yaakobi, Keren Arias, Liron Tal-Aloni, Gili Bor
Basic and Applied Social Psychology December 1, 2003 DOI: 10.1207/s15324834basp2504_4 (opens in new tab)
Study at a glance
AI-extracted from the abstract| Characteristics | Experimental Peer reviewed |
|---|---|
| Population | Israeli undergraduates |
| Interventions | priming of attachment-unrelated positive affect priming of neutral issues |
| Citations | 216 |
| Key findings | Priming a sense of secure base and lower attachment avoidance were associated with greater endorsement of self-transcendence values. |
Abstract
Abstract Three studies examined the effects of chronic and contextual activation of the sense of having a secure base on the endorsement of self-transcendence values. The sense of secure base was primed by asking Israeli undergraduates to recollect personal memories or watch a pictorial representation of supportive others, and this condition was compared against the priming of attachment-unrelated positive affect and the priming of neutral issues. Then, participants reported on the importance of two self-transcendence values-benevolence and universalism (Studies 1-2)-or spontaneously generated their most important values (Study 3). In addition, the chronic sense of attachment security was assessed along the dimensions of avoidance and anxiety. Secure-base priming and lower scores of attachment avoidance were significantly associated with heightened endorsement of self-transcendence values. These effects could not be explained by induced or reported mood. The findings emphasize the relevance of attachment theory for understanding reactions to others' needs and value orientation.