LE3 .A278 2020

2020

Brodeur, Darlene

Acadia University

Bachelor of Science

Honours

Psychology

Psychology

The current study looked to explore the relationship between individual difference variables and attention ability. This study examined the proposal that attachment style and the presence of autism traits may be linked to components of attention including orienting and executive control abilities. Undergraduate students were tested using a modified attention network task (ANT), a measure of attachment (Experiences in Close Relationships - Short form), and a measure of autism traits (Autism Quotient (AQ)) in typically developed individuals. It was found that an anxious attachment style was significantly correlated with and a significant predictor of orienting attention ability, avoidant attachment style was significantly correlated with exogenous orienting, and autism traits were associated with exogenous orienting ability. The results support the hypothesis that epigenetic context variables related to individual variability in attachment and autism traits are related to the development of basic attention abilities.

The author retains copyright in this thesis. Any substantial copying or any other actions that exceed fair dealing or other exceptions in the Copyright Act require the permission of the author.

https://scholar.acadiau.ca/islandora/object/theses:3437