The relationship between adult attachment styles, hostile attribution bias and aggression

The goal of this study was to provide a theoretical framework for integrating attachment style and hostile attribution concepts into a viable model that may help explain the use of aggression in intimate relationships. A review of the current literature was conducted along with a correlational study to test associations between the constructs. The first hypothesis posits that high attachment anxiety and low attachment avoidance would be significantly related to higher levels of aggression. The second hypothesis predicts that the relationship between attachment and aggression would be moderated by the level of hostile attribution bias. Regression analyses were performed to test for both of these hypotheses. Neither hypothesis was supported by the data. Possible explanations for the outcomes were discussed along with methods used in measuring hostile attribution bias in intimate partner contexts. Limitations and future directions are discussed.