Connection between anger discomfort and attachment style in women

Abstract

The article examines the relationship between anger discomfort and attachment style in women. In general, it was predicted that there would be a difference between securely and insecurely attached individuals in terms of the discomfort felt when dealing with anger. It was hypothesized that the securely attached individuals would feel more comfortable with anger than insecurely attached individuals (hypothesis 1) and that individuals with a negative model of self and others would experience a higher level of discomfort (hyphothesis 2). Namely, discomfort usually activates the emotion regulation system, which shapes the individual’s ability to cope with emotions and to use them in a functional way. This mechanism is infringed in insecurely attached individuals. While the results confirmed the first hypothesis as a whole, the second one was only partially confirmed, as the only significant correlation found was between the level of unease and the model of self. The findings of research contribute to a better understanding of the connection between the attachment system and anger discomfort specifically in women. In addition, this research can be considered as the first stepping stone to finding further solutions which would bring relief to women facing anger-related problems, boost their effectiveness and improve their quality of life.