Attachment Style, Task Difficulty, and Feedback Type: Effects on Cognitive Load

This study examines how attachment styles influence cognitive load during a dot counting task with varying difficulty levels and feedback types. From an initial pool of 96 participants, 27 were selected based on attachment classifications from the Experiences in Close Relationships-Revised (ECR-R) q...

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Main Authors: Dor Mizrahi, Ilan Laufer, Inon Zuckerman
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: MDPI AG 2025-03-01
Series:Behavioral Sciences
Subjects:
Online Access:https://www.mdpi.com/2076-328X/15/4/427
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author Dor Mizrahi
Ilan Laufer
Inon Zuckerman
author_facet Dor Mizrahi
Ilan Laufer
Inon Zuckerman
author_sort Dor Mizrahi
collection DOAJ
description This study examines how attachment styles influence cognitive load during a dot counting task with varying difficulty levels and feedback types. From an initial pool of 96 participants, 27 were selected based on attachment classifications from the Experiences in Close Relationships-Revised (ECR-R) questionnaire. These participants completed the task while receiving personal and group-based feedback, and EEG recordings monitored cognitive load using the theta/beta ratio (TBR). Results show that negative personal feedback consistently elevated cognitive load across all attachment styles. Avoidant and fearful-avoidant individuals did not exhibit significant differences in cognitive load between positive and negative group feedback, suggesting a relatively stable response regardless of feedback valence. In contrast, securely attached individuals showed increased cognitive load under negative feedback conditions. Furthermore, individuals with higher attachment-related anxiety or avoidance experienced more pronounced increases in cognitive load as task difficulty increased. These findings suggest that attachment-related differences shape cognitive responses to feedback and task complexity level. The study highlights the role of adaptive feedback strategies in optimizing cognitive engagement across different attachment profiles.
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series Behavioral Sciences
spelling doaj-art-8c75d88fc0cc401bbd4a149263f5d8552025-08-20T03:14:20ZengMDPI AGBehavioral Sciences2076-328X2025-03-0115442710.3390/bs15040427Attachment Style, Task Difficulty, and Feedback Type: Effects on Cognitive LoadDor Mizrahi0Ilan Laufer1Inon Zuckerman2Department of Industrial Engineering and Management, Ariel University, Ariel 4070000, IsraelDepartment of Industrial Engineering and Management, Ariel University, Ariel 4070000, IsraelDepartment of Industrial Engineering and Management, Ariel University, Ariel 4070000, IsraelThis study examines how attachment styles influence cognitive load during a dot counting task with varying difficulty levels and feedback types. From an initial pool of 96 participants, 27 were selected based on attachment classifications from the Experiences in Close Relationships-Revised (ECR-R) questionnaire. These participants completed the task while receiving personal and group-based feedback, and EEG recordings monitored cognitive load using the theta/beta ratio (TBR). Results show that negative personal feedback consistently elevated cognitive load across all attachment styles. Avoidant and fearful-avoidant individuals did not exhibit significant differences in cognitive load between positive and negative group feedback, suggesting a relatively stable response regardless of feedback valence. In contrast, securely attached individuals showed increased cognitive load under negative feedback conditions. Furthermore, individuals with higher attachment-related anxiety or avoidance experienced more pronounced increases in cognitive load as task difficulty increased. These findings suggest that attachment-related differences shape cognitive responses to feedback and task complexity level. The study highlights the role of adaptive feedback strategies in optimizing cognitive engagement across different attachment profiles.https://www.mdpi.com/2076-328X/15/4/427attachment stylecognitive loadEEGtheta/beta ratiotask difficultyfeedback
spellingShingle Dor Mizrahi
Ilan Laufer
Inon Zuckerman
Attachment Style, Task Difficulty, and Feedback Type: Effects on Cognitive Load
Behavioral Sciences
attachment style
cognitive load
EEG
theta/beta ratio
task difficulty
feedback
title Attachment Style, Task Difficulty, and Feedback Type: Effects on Cognitive Load
title_full Attachment Style, Task Difficulty, and Feedback Type: Effects on Cognitive Load
title_fullStr Attachment Style, Task Difficulty, and Feedback Type: Effects on Cognitive Load
title_full_unstemmed Attachment Style, Task Difficulty, and Feedback Type: Effects on Cognitive Load
title_short Attachment Style, Task Difficulty, and Feedback Type: Effects on Cognitive Load
title_sort attachment style task difficulty and feedback type effects on cognitive load
topic attachment style
cognitive load
EEG
theta/beta ratio
task difficulty
feedback
url https://www.mdpi.com/2076-328X/15/4/427
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AT ilanlaufer attachmentstyletaskdifficultyandfeedbacktypeeffectsoncognitiveload
AT inonzuckerman attachmentstyletaskdifficultyandfeedbacktypeeffectsoncognitiveload