Parental attachment style, but not environmental quality, is associated with use of opposite-sex parents as a template for relationship partners. (1st September 2017)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Akao, Karen A.; Adair, Lora; Brase, Gary L.
• Is Part Of: Personality and individual differences. Volume 115(2017)
• Page Start: 103
• Page End: 107
• Publication Date: 2017-09-01
• Subjects: Relationships -- Attachment -- Early environment -- Sex differences -- Templates; Personality -- Periodicals; Individuality -- Periodicals; Individuality -- Periodicals; Personality Development -- Periodicals; Personnalité -- Périodiques; Individualité -- Périodiques; 155.205
• DOI: 10.1016/j.paid.2016.04.071
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 0191-8869

Abstract

Abstract: Animal and human studies have suggested that some individuals use sexual imprinting, in which a template is created based on traits of one's opposite-sex parent (OSP), to assist in choosing potential mates. The current study investigates the role of parental attachment and early environment in the variance of using a sexual imprinted template. Two hundred twenty-nine undergraduate students from a Midwestern university completed the Parental Acceptance–Rejection Questionnaire (Rohner, 1990), answered questions on early environment, and rated traits of their opposite-sex parent, ideal partner, and acceptable partner. Results show varying evidence for sexual imprinting. In particular, there are correlations between secure attachment and stricter adherence to an opposite-sex parent template, especially for women, but no association between early environment and template variance. Highlights: Prior studies suggest some use of an opposite-sex parent template in mate choices. This study looks at attachment and early environment effects on this template use. Some correlations were found between secure attachment and template adherence. Results show no association between early environment and template variance.