The Effect Of Attachment Style On The Difference Between Present And Future Self-representation

Previous study revealed that present self-representation is a complicated form and both negative and positive aspects were included, while future self-representation is much more positive. The former representation is based on self-experience and the latter is relying on hoping. Resent years construction theory aids the self research which suggests that self-construction is both high-level and low-level, In addition, the temporal distance affects the level of construction. People are prone to high level construction for future representation but low level construction in present self representation. Although difference attachment style affect self-presentation, previous study focuses on the different attachment style only, not on the time dimension. How attachment type affect temporal self? if positive or negative self vary with time? Few studies investigate above question. The current study aims to investigate temporal difference in self-presentation with discrete attachment style.Using Su Dan’s research Paradigm, we asked subjects to rate the words under present and future condition, which selected from big five personality vocabulary, both positively and negatively. Due to the difference in self-representation between different attachment styles, is there any difference in temporal aspects? Study one found that both secured and unsecured subjects are positive in present and future self presentation. However, both secured and dismissing subjects are much positive, which confirm Batholomew’s study. Although fearful and preoccupied subjects are positive, their scores are over the edge, which may be affected by the impact of the self-serving bias and social desirability. They are more prone to positively judge self.In study2, trait sentence were created according to words while acting sentences were built upon trait sentence correspondingly. As in experiment1, subjects rated the sentences depend on their own experience. If different self representation affects level of construction? Study two revealed that self construction was not influenced by attachment style. However, attachment style affects future construction:secured, preoccupied subjects are abstract-high-level constructed, while dismissing and fearful style are specific-low-level constructed.