Emotion and adult attachment using the adult attachment picture system: an examination of facial displays of emotion and depressive symptoms

Attachment theory examines how bonds to caregivers in childhood may impact long-term functioning in many areas of life. This study investigated two such areas in relation to attachment: depression, and facial displays of the seven basic emotions of joy, sadness, anger, disgust, surprise, contempt, and fear. To do so, 60 university students were instructed to fill out a depression measure, and then tell attachment stories using the Adult Attachment Projective Picture System (AAP; George & West, 2001) while their facial behaviour was being recorded and coded for facial movements using iMotions automated software. Facial displays were defined by the percentage time and frequency rate of each emotion expressed. We hypothesized that participants would differ in their facial expressions when exposed to attachment-neutral compared to attachment-relevant stimuli, and results indicated that participants demonstrated more joy in response to attachment-neutral than attachment-relevant photos, likely due to the more threatening nature of the attachment-relevant photos. Furthermore, we hypothesized that facial expressions due to attachment stimuli would differ based on their attachment category. This hypothesis was supported, as expressions of contempt were found to be more common in Unresolved as compared to Secure individuals in response to attachment stimuli. Lastly, we examined whether depression scores would differ between groups, as well as how depression scores may be correlated to certain expressions of emotion. We found that while depression scores did not differ across attachment groups, they were significantly positively correlated with expressions of fear. This study offers valuable information as it is the first of its kind to use facial behavioural analysis during administration of the AAP.