Security priming in everyday life: How do symbols of close others support attachment in adulthood?
Abstract
= 249), participants were randomly assigned to remove images of their partners from their screens. In contrast to Study 2, this removal led to measurable declines in attachment security over time. These findings suggest that while lock screen images may reflect existing levels of security, their removal-rather than their addition-can have detectable psychological effects. We discuss the implications for designing low-cost, scalable interventions aimed at enhancing attachment security and for understanding the role of "invisible infrastructure" in shaping psychological functioning. (PsycInfo Database Record (c) 2026 APA, all rights reserved).
Fields of Study & Subjects
Attachment and Relationship Dynamics
Innovative Human-Technology Interaction
Death Anxiety and Social Exclusion
Publication details
- Journal / source
- Journal of Personality and Social Psychology
- Publisher
- American Psychological Association (APA)
- Volume
- 130
- Issue
- 6
- Pages
- 1229–1247
- Publication date
- 5 January 2026
- Language
- EN