Abstract

The purpose of this study is to determine the explanatory power of the anxious and avoidant dimensions of attachment to explain the interpersonal cognitive distortions. The research was conducted on correlational pattern, one of the quantitative research models. A total of 413 volunteer undergraduates students, from Selçuk University were research samples. Interpersonal Cognitive Distortions Scale (ICDS), Experiences in Close Relationships-Revised (ECR-R) and personal information forms were used for data collection. Correlation and regression analysis were used to examine the relationships between variables. The major finding of the study was that  the basic dimensions of adult attachment are the important variables in the explanation of the individuals’ interpersonal rejection, unrealistic relationships expectations and interpersonal misperception distortions. According to the research findings, while the attachment-related avoidance is the most important predictor of interpersonal rejection, the attachment-related anxiety has no significant contribution to the model (R2= 0.20). The attachment-related avoidance and attachment-related anxiety are the significant predictors of the unrealistic relationships expectations (R2= 0.18) and interpersonal misperception distortions (R2= 0.04) cognitive distortion subdimensions.

Key words: Attachment-related avoidance, attachment-related anxiety, interpersonal rejection, unrealistic relationships expectations, interpersonal misperception.