Prior research finds that insecure or anxious/avoidant attachment styles in gay men are related to engagement in extradyadic behaviors despite agreed upon monogamy. My current research study (n=38, modal age= 36, SD=9.2 years) indicates that an anxious attachment style in gay-identified men is significantly correlated with infidelity.
When asked about past monogamous relationships, just under half of the sample reported having had sex with "someone other than their permanent partner." When asked about their current relationship, 33% indicated engaging in extradyadic behaviors without their partner's knowledge.
Using the Adult Attachment Inventory to assess attachment style, 35% reported that they generally experienced, in all of their romantic relationships, a fear that they would lose their partner. 16% reported feeling nervous when their partners became emotionally close to them. My study also looks at how internalized homophobia and attachment style related to the frequency of extradyadic events. I'm still analyzing the data. Thoughts? Will legalization of marriage between same-sex couples impact this trend at all?
Hi Joshua.
You ask if legalization of marriage between same-sex couples impact insecure or anxious/avoidant attachment styles related to infidelity despite agreed upon monogamy. My opinion is that legalization may contribute to a greater sense of security but is no cure for insecure attachment style, psychoanalysis could alter the attachment style.
Personality Characteristics and Attitudes Towards Infidelity In Gay and Lesbian Individuals
by Harris, Lisa E., Ph.D., ADELPHI UNIVERSITY, THE INSTITUTE OF ADVANCED PSYCHOLOGICAL STUDIES, 2012, 152 pages; 3531144
http://gateway.proquest.com/openurl?url_ver=Z39.88-2004&res_dat=xri:pqdiss&rft_val_fmt=info:ofi/fmt:kev:mtx:dissertation&rft_dat=xri:pqdiss:3531144
Gormley, Barbara ([email protected]) Lopez, Frederick G.(2010) 'Authoritarian and Homophobic Attitudes: Gender and Adult Attachment Style Differences', Journal of Homosexuality, 57: 4, 525 — 538
"Men with dismissing [attachment] styles evidenced the highest levels of homophobia, whereas women with dismissing styles demonstrated the lowest levels; that is, a fear of intimacy seemed to contribute to homophobic attitudes found among heterosexual men."
Internalized homophobia and adult attachment: Implications for clinical practice.
Sherry, Alissa
Psychotherapy: Theory, Research, Practice, Training, Vol 44(2), Jun 2007, 219-225. http://dx.doi.org/10.1037/0033-3204.44.2.219
Alessi, H., Ahn, B., Kulkin, H., & Ballard, M. (2011). An exploratory study: Lesbian identity development and attachment style. Retrieved from http://counselingoutfitters .com/vistas/vistas11/Article_72.pdf
Sexual Addiction & Compulsivity: The Journal of Treatment & Prevention Vol 13, 2-3, 2006. The Sex Addicted Mixed-Orientation Marriage: Examining Attachment Styles, Internalized Homophobia and Viability of Marriage After Disclosure
DOI:10.1080/10720160600870737
M. Deborah Corleya & Joe Kortbpages 167-193
Gurit Birnbaum of IDC Herzliya have done some work linking attachment to sexuality. See here: https://sites.google.com/site/birnbaumgurit/home/cv/. I also have a paper (currently under review so I cannot share it here yet) linking attachment with detection of infidelity
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