Among the various factors that can lead to attachment-system activation,
one contributing factor that has been relatively unexplored is the presence
of primal threats (e.g., darkness, unexpected noises). The current study
aims to bridge this knowledge gap in the literature by investigating the
way in which individual differences in attachment style predict affect
regulation after exposure to fear-related stimuli (i.e., visiting a local
haunted house attraction). Study results show that, on average, our sample
experienced higher positive and negative affect compared to the average
population. Moreover, the results also indicated that those who are more
avoidantly attached reported experiencing less negative emotion. This
result was not statistically significant but trended in the same direction
as previous research findings. Implications for this study include an
improved theoretical understanding of attachment-system functioning and the
regulation of the powerful emotion of fear in threatening and uncertain
contexts.