The general working models of individuals from divorced and conflict-ridden families, risk factors in intimate bonds?

Abstract

The current study had three main goals: First, to contrast the general working models of young adults of divorced parents (Divorce Adults) with those of individuals from intact families in which a) parents were happily married (Intact Adults), and b) parents had troubled relationships (Conflict Adults). Consistent with predictions, results suggested that Divorce Females had more negative models of self than Intact participants, but comparable models of others, a pattern consistent with a more preoccupied attachment style. Conflict Adults, in contrast, had more negative models of both self and others relative to Intact Adults. That is, they were more fearful in their attachment orientations.

The second goal of the present study was to conduct a preliminary test of a model that outlined the way in which these general schemata would influence individuals' perceptions of their ongoing close relationships. As expected, participants appeared to import their general issues into their current bonds. Whereas, those with more negative models of self (i.e. Divorce Females) had stronger abandonment concerns, individuals with more negative models of others (i.e., Conflict Adults) had stronger concerns about becoming close with their current partners.

These perceptions of vulnerability were not expected to influence participants' evaluations of their ongoing involvements. They were expected to compartmentalize their concerns from their feelings about their relationships to maintain a sense of "felt security." The predicted pattern was found only for Divorce Adults. The mechanisms responsible for these findings are discussed.

The final goal of the study was to assess the impact of individuals' concerns (i.e., vulnerabilities) over time. Vulnerabilities were expected to have an insidious negative effect on their bonds, increasing their risk of break-up. This prediction was, again, supported only for Divorce participants. The clinical and theoretical implications of these findings are discussed.