ROMANTIC BELIEFS OF YOUTH WITH DIFFERENT ATTACHMENT STYLES
Abstract
Relevance. The article explores the relationship between young people’s beliefs about romantic relationships and attachment styles. It summarizes contemporary scientific literature covering concepts of romantic beliefs, love styles, and attachment, which are essential for understanding interaction in romantic relationships.
Methodology. Research methods include tools for assessing romantic beliefs, love styles and attachment styles: Romantic Beliefs Scale (S. Sprecher & S. Metts), Love Attitudes Scale (LAS, C. Hendrick & S.Hendrick), The Experiences In Close Relationships-Revised (Ecr-R) Questionnaire (R. Fraley, N. Waller & K. Brennan). The study sample consisted of 73 respondents aged 18 to 25 years
Results. An empirical study was conducted to examine beliefs about romantic relationships as well as the connection of these beliefs with attachment styles (anxious and avoidant). Comparative analysis revealed gender differences: young men more often demonstrated partner idealization, belief in "One and Only" partners, and love at first sight as well as more inclined toward "Mania" and "Agape". Correlation analysis showed that avoidance has a negative connection with the belief "Love Finds a Way," while anxiety positively correlates with "Mania" and "Pragma." Avoidant individuals are more inclined toward the playful "Ludus" love style, while their inclination toward passionate "Eros" and altruistic "Agape" is negatively correlated.
Conclusions. Young men are more prone to a romantism in relationships, idealization of the partner and belief in love at first sight. In styles of behavior in love, they demonstrate a greater tendency to love of the type “Mania” and “Agape”. The qualities of attachment (anxiety and avoidance) influence the ideas about romantic relationships and the choice of a style of behavior in them. Thus, higher anxiety indicators and low avoidance parameters, regardless of gender, predict a high probability of ideas about love that conquers all (“Love finds a way”). The remaining types of romantic ideas are significantly determined by gender, and, according to our data, it is young men who are more prone to idealization in relationships, belief in love at first sight and one single partner.
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