Preemptive Buffering: Attachment figure representations lessen the affective sting of internally-generated threats by increasing positive affect

One of life’s most pernicious and frequently-encountered stressors are internal threats, such as one’s own thoughts, memories, and worries. Here we examine whether and how activating the mental representation of an attachment figure can preemptively buffer against the negative affective consequences of upsetting autobiographical memory recall. We demonstrate that simply viewing a photograph of one’s attachment figure (mother or romantic partner) prior to an upsetting memory recall preemptively buffered against negative affect, as compared to viewing a photograph of a stranger or a neutral object (Studies 1a-2b). Moreover, we provide strong correlational and experimental evidence that such preemptive buffering effects arise primarily via the positive affect spontaneously triggered by attachment representations. Specifically, we demonstrate that viewing photographs of other rewarding stimuli, such as a liked celebrity or positive image, also confers affective benefits (Studies 3a-3b). Lastly, consistent with work showing that adult attachment avoidance is associated with less positive attachment representations, a meta-analysis of the six studies shows that the preemptive buffering effect was weakest for individuals high (vs. low) on attachment avoidance. Although close relationships have been shown to promote physical and mental well-being, questions remain about when and how such benefits occur. The present findings identify a new route by which close relationships dampen reactivity to internal threats. In line with contemporary views that social and nonsocial rewards recruit similar psychological and neural circuitry, positive affect elicited by attachment representations provides a rudimentary signal that confers benefits. Implications for adult attachment, positive psychology, and emotion regulation are discussed.