Examining Personality, Attachment Style, Positive Affect and Perceived Social Support in a University Sample

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Abstract Attachment, personality, and affect appear to be related, the present study employs Shiota, Keltner & John (2006) design to examine the relationship between these variables. However, little research has been undertaken to examine the relationship between these variables and perceived social support (PSS; Noftle & Shaver, 2005). The present study aims to extend Noftle and Shaver (2005) to also examine PSS, in an Australian sample (Procidano & Heller,1983). In accord with hypotheses, results indicated that there is a relationship between agency focused emotions and conscientiousness. However, several points of disagreement exist between previous research and the current findings. In the present study extroversion and secure attachment appear to be associated with agency focused emotions as well as love and awe, while Shiota et al. (2006) found a robust relationship between extraversion and all positive affective states, and secure attachment with compassion but not awe. Future research is necessary to examine the stability of these relationships across time, samples, and context. Examining Personality, Attachment Style, Positive Affect and Perceived Social Support in a University Sample Theorists argue that humans establish a predominant approach to relationships in childhood, known as their 'attachment style' (Ainsworth & Bowlby, 1987). Attachment Theory posits that attachment style influences feelings of security within relationships, often leading to positive emotional experiences. Personality may influence preferences in social pursuits, leading to individual differences in appraisal of stimuli (Fraley & Shaver, 2000; Mesquita, 2001). Stimuli can result in positive (love, joy, pride, awe and amusement) and negative (anger, nervousness and fear) affective states (Thorberg & Lyvers, 2010). Integrative studies of affect, attachment and personality

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