How Rejection Sensitivity Relates to Attachment: While Looking at Their Relationship with Feedback Learning

The present study looked into the relationship between rejection sensitivity (RS) and feedback learning, and whether this is possibly mediated by attachment. Humans have a need to fit in and have close interpersonal relationships, and therefore, it is essential to be able to adjust and learn from feedback from others. Individual differences, such as RS, could play an important role in which attachment style an individual uses and how one responds to feedback. Participants (N= 97) completed several questionnaires, including Liebowitz Social Anxiety Scale (LSAS), Experiences in Close Relationships-Revised (ECR-R) and Rejection Sensitivity Questionnaire (RSQ). Additionally, they took part in the Social Probabilistic Learning Paradigm (SELF-Symbol) to measure feedback learning, and were observed for behavioural data. Results indicated that RS is closely related to attachment, and therefore, to attachment-related anxiety. The negative direction of the relationship between RS and feedback...Show moreThe present study looked into the relationship between rejection sensitivity (RS) and feedback learning, and whether this is possibly mediated by attachment. Humans have a need to fit in and have close interpersonal relationships, and therefore, it is essential to be able to adjust and learn from feedback from others. Individual differences, such as RS, could play an important role in which attachment style an individual uses and how one responds to feedback. Participants (N= 97) completed several questionnaires, including Liebowitz Social Anxiety Scale (LSAS), Experiences in Close Relationships-Revised (ECR-R) and Rejection Sensitivity Questionnaire (RSQ). Additionally, they took part in the Social Probabilistic Learning Paradigm (SELF-Symbol) to measure feedback learning, and were observed for behavioural data. Results indicated that RS is closely related to attachment, and therefore, to attachment-related anxiety. The negative direction of the relationship between RS and feedback learning and between feedback learning and attachment were found as expected. However, these relationships were not robust. As this study did not find a mediating role of attachment on the relationship between RS and feedback learning, this study still contributes to the scarce knowledge in the field of RS and attachment. Future research can use the limitations of this study to build on the newfound knowledge obtained from this research, where possible interventions can be made to increase the well-being of people high in RS, attachment-related anxiety, and in civil society.Show less

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How Rejection Sensitivity Relates to Attachment: While Looking at Their Relationship with Feedback Learning