Abstract

Previous studies have found that, in the Western culture, the defensive processes of participants with relatively avoidant attachment tendencies are manifested in their basic motor responses. Studies have also shown that there are cultural differences in attachment behaviors. Therefore, it is worth examining whether the defensive processes of relatively avoidant individuals are manifested in their basic motor responses in the Eastern culture as well. In the present study, 122 Chinese undergraduates were recruited as participants. They were shown real pictures of their mothers and were asked to push or pull a lever as quickly as possible. The results showed that participants with relatively avoidant tendencies inclined to pushed the lever when their mother’s picture was presented. This suggested that, in the Eastern culture, the basic avoidant motivation of relatively avoidant individuals was also automatically activated while processing attachment-related stimuli. In addition, this automatic activation was also manifested in basic, motor-specific ways.

Keywords: Defensive processes; Avoidant attachment; Cultural difference