SDSU Attachment Styles in Communication Discussions

Attachment Styles refer to working mental models that people hold regarding their bonds with other people. The purpose of this set of discussion questions is to have you assess your own attachment style and how it reflects in communication behavior. Attachment styles include Secure, Preoccupied, Fearful, and Dismissive.

Complete the survey on pages 259-261 and compute your score as directed on top of page 261. Then answer the following questions (due Friday by 11 AM).

1. Is the survey valid in predicting your own attachment style(s)? That is, do your scores reflect your mental models of how you relate in relationships?

2. Do you believe that people’s attachment styles strongly predict their communication behavior?

3. Which behaviors listed on p. 257 and the PowerPoint slides for Chapter 8 best represent your attachment style?

4. Do you disagree with any of the behaviors listed on p. 257—that is, indicate if there are any behaviors that do not correspond with your attachment style?

5. Has your attachment style changed or remain the same since childhood? If your attachment style has changed, what led to the change(s)? If your attachment style has not changed, then what has sustained it from childhood to now?