Changes in attachment, affect, and cognition

Sixty young adults who had recently experienced a breakup were prospectively followed over a four-week period in order to access (a) the degree of change in individuals' conscious treatment and unconscious cognitive perceptions of ex-partners as attachment figures, (b) how these changes are associated with corresponding changes in individual's breakup resistance and their emotional adjustment (c) whether changes in each of these domains is associated with the individual's attachment style, coping strategies, and post breakup behavior. Results showed that individuals unconsciously treated their ex-partner as an attachment figure after the breakup and desired to utilize their ex-partner as an attachment figure after the breakup more than they actually did. Individual differences in attachment style were not associated with conscious detachment but highly anxious individuals showed less of a decline in unconscious cognitive responses to the ex-partner as an attachment figure. Rumination was associated with less change in depressive symptoms and distraction was associated with greater change in breakup resistance. Partner contact and sex with ex-partner was associated with less conscious detachment, while committing to a new relationship was associated with greater unconscious detachment.