People who imagine their future without anyone else in it aren’t loners by nature — new research suggests it’s a learned defense that quietly collapses the moment the imagined future turns stressful
A recent psychological study reveals that our deeply ingrained relationship habits dictate how we mentally simulate the future. Anxiously attached individuals imagine highly social futures, whereas avoidant individuals envision scenarios with far fewer interpersonal ties.
A fresh study published in the Journal of Individual Differences reveals that how people envision their future is influenced by their past relationships, not innate personality traits. Those who struggle with closeness in current relationships envision fewer social interactions in their imagined future. Conversely, individuals with high relationship anxiety tend to imagine scenarios filled with interpersonal connections. Scientists suggest that this learned behavior quietly fades when the imagined future turns stressful.
Written by urgent.news from PsyPost's reporting — not their text. Machine-written — may contain errors; check the original before relying on it.
