Kirkpatrick, L. A. (1999). Individual differences in attachment and
reproductive strategies: Commentary on Buss & Greiling. Journal
of Personality, 67, 245-258.
Abstract
Buss and Greiling (1999) cite individual differences in attachment as a
principal illustration of adaptive individual differences. This particular
example, however, is a highly controversial one: Many if not most
relationship researchers assume (implicitly or explicitly) that insecure
attachment patterns reflect some kind of malfunction of the attachment
system in modern environments rather than evolved facultative strategies.
I therefore review some of the arguments and evidence on both sides of
this issue, along with the closely related topics of mating/reproductive
strategies and paternal investment. In the end I support the Buss-Greiling
position, but for reasons not discussed in their article.
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