Are Attachment Styles General Interpersonal Orientations? Applicants' Perceptions and Emotions in Interaction with Evaluators in a College Entrance Examination

This study examined whether attachment styles, constructed in close relationships, are related to applicants' perceptions and emotions in a substantially different relationship with evaluators in a college entrance examination. The findings suggest that secure and fearful styles may consist of somewhat stable interpersonal orientations that are evident across relationships. Fearful attachment was related to lower anticipatory challenge appraisal, more negative emotional reactions, and a less positive view of evaluators during the examination. Secure attachment was related to more positive views of self and evaluators. Interview boards assessed more fearful applicants as less suitable, and more secure applicants as more suitable for kindergarten teacher education. The only significant findings for preoccupied and dismissing attachment styles were obtained in the context of close relationships.