Expression of Attitudes Towards Appearance and Their Connection to the Formation of Behavioral Strategies in Close Relationships Among Young People
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Section

Social Psychology

UDC

316.728-053.6

DOI

https://doi.org/10.31429/26190567-24-3-102-118

How to Cite

Labunskaya, V.A. (2023). Expression of Attitudes Towards Appearance and Their Connection to the Formation of Behavioral Strategies in Close Relationships Among Young People. South-Russian Journal of Social Sciences, 24(3), 102-118. DOI: 10.31429/26190567-24-3-102-118
Submission Date June 5, 2023
Accepted Date July 6, 2023
Published Date September 29, 2023
Creative Commons License

This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License.

Copyright (c) 2024 Вера Александровна Лабунская

Abstract

This article examines the study of behavioral strategies in close relationships, types of attachment associated with them, and their interaction with various aspects of personality’s life activities. The article is based on the provisions formulated in the works of A. A. Bodalev. It also explores the evaluation of self-appearance (AP) as a behavioral strategy in close relationships. At the empirical level, we examined attitudes towards AP, including their significance, impact on romantic relationships, and self-assessment of attractiveness to the opposite sex partner. We also studied experiences related to romantic partner’s evaluations of AP. We then determined the relationship between these attitudes and levels of anxiety and avoidance strategy expression in close relationships. As a result, the study partially confirmed the hypothesis about the different expression of the characteristics of the attitude toward the AP, conditioned by the level of expression of the anxiety and avoidance strategies in close relationships. It was also hypothesized that attachment types would be the variables mediating the associations between strategies of intimate relationship behavior and attitudinal characteristics of one’s AP. A combination of correlational analysis and comparative data suggests that adolescents, regardless of sex, who have low levels of anxiety and avoidance strategies in close relationships and higher levels of attachment type A, place less importance on AP in romantic relationships, feel less embarrassed when their AP is revealed to their romantic partner, and see less impact of attachment anxiety on their relationship with their partner. Attachment types B and D are associated with high levels of avoidance strategies and anxiety behavior in close relationships, which can increase the dependence of romantic relationships on AP.

Keywords

interpersonal communication personality close relationships appearance behavioral strategies attachment types young people / adolescents

Funding information

The study was financially supported by RNF, project No. 22-28-01641 “Determinants of the influence of external appearance assessments on interpersonal relationships and subjective well-being”.

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