Kallio, Kristine (2021) Attachment Styles, Flirting Styles and Relationship Sabotage: Does the beginning matter in the end? Honours thesis, University of Southern Queensland. (Unpublished)
Abstract
Despite research identifying romantic relationship difficulties as the third most common reason individuals pursue counselling the prominence of this issue is often underrecognised. Thus, gaining better understanding of relationship attitudes and behaviours can assist health professionals in identifying individuals stuck in a relationship sabotage cycle. Therefore, the purpose of this study is to conceptualise and predict the relationship between attachment styles, flirting styles and relationship sabotage attitudes and behaviours. Accordingly, it was predicted a relationship would exist between the three variables with a model proposed. Specifically, it was hypothesised attachment style would predict flirting style, with insecure-avoidant attachment predicting polite and playful flirting styles and insecure-anxious attachment predicting playful, traditional, and sincere flirting styles. It was also expected polite and traditional flirting styles would predict trust difficulty, traditional and playful flirting styles would predict defensiveness and playful and sincere flirting styles would predict lack of relationship skills. A quantitative experimental research design was conducted using an online survey distributed through forms of social media. A random sample of 752 men, women and non-binary individuals participated in the study. Data was collected between March 2021 and July 2021, with correlations and multiple regressions completed using the Experiences in Close Relationship Scale Short Form, the Flirting Styles Inventory Revised, and the Relationship Sabotage Scale. The results partially supported the hypotheses and the conceptualised model suggested. This study will inform further research into relationship sabotage providing support for empirical measures in identifying potential relationship saboteurs and a model for understanding relationship sabotage.
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| Item Type: | Thesis (Non-Research) (Honours) |
|---|---|
| Item Status: | Live Archive |
| Additional Information: | Current UniSQ staff and students can request access to this thesis. Please email research.repository@unisq.edu.au with a subject line of SEAR thesis request and provide: Name of the thesis requested and Your name and UniSQ email address |
| Faculty/School / Institute/Centre: | Historic - Faculty of Health, Engineering and Sciences - School of Psychology and Counselling (1 Jan 2015 - 31 Dec 2021) |
| Supervisors: | Raquel Peel |
| Qualification: | Bachelor of Science (Honours) |
| Date Deposited: | 28 Jul 2025 23:33 |
| Last Modified: | 28 Jul 2025 23:33 |
| Uncontrolled Keywords: | flirting styles ; romantic sabotage ; defensiveness ; trust difficulty ; relationship skill |
| Fields of Research (2008): | 17 Psychology and Cognitive Sciences > 1799 Other Psychology and Cognitive Sciences > 179999 Psychology and Cognitive Sciences not elsewhere classified |
| Fields of Research (2020): | 52 PSYCHOLOGY > 5299 Other psychology > 529999 Other psychology not elsewhere classified |
| URI: | https://sear.unisq.edu.au/id/eprint/52453 |
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