Gottman’s Four Horsemen and Attachment Styles

Abstract

This present study was done to see the correlations between Gottman’s (1999) four horsemen of the apocalypse for relationships (Criticism, Contempt, Defensiveness, and Stonewalling) and one of the four attachment styles (Bartholomew & Horowitz, 1991) (Secure, Fearful Avoidant, Dismissive Avoidant, and Anxious Preoccupied). The research questions are four hypotheses embedded within: (1) There will be a positive relationship between responses on the Secure category and Criticism in the Gottman model. (2) There will be a negative relationship between responses on the Secure category and Contempt in the Gottman model. (3) There will be a positive relationship between responses on the Secure category and Defensiveness in the Gottman model. (4) There will be a positive relationship between responses on the Secure category and Stonewalling in the Gottman Model. An online survey was sent out to a mid-sized university, and 280 participants responded to the survey. Students, faculty, and staff were eligible to respond to the survey. Results from the survey concluded that there were negative relationships between responses on the Secure category and Contempt, Defensiveness, and Stonewalling in the Gottman model. Findings found a positive relationship between responses on the Secure category and Criticism in the Gottman model.