Ambivalent Facebook Users: Anxious Attachment Style and Goal Cognition

Abstract

Drawing on attachment theory, this study shows that people with greater anxious attachment use Facebook (FB) to maintain their social relationships but feel ambivalent in the process. Integrating attachment theory and goal cognition theory, this study explicates the psychological process that drives anxious people’s pursuit of social goals though their FB use. Specifically, it identifies two social goals that motivate anxious people’s FB use (to belong and to be well-liked) and explores the psychological process that underlies their goal pursuit. Four specific elements of goal cognition function in the pursuit of these goals: A motive to belong/to be well-liked (directive function) triggers social vigilance/self-vigilance on FB (regulatory function), leading to a fear of being excluded/social jealousy (control function) and then quiescent–agitated/happy–dejected ambivalent feelings (arousal function).