Can secure attachment be related to prosocial behaviors through the mediation of humanizing self-perceptions?

In this study, we explore whether different self-perceptions in terms of human traits are associated with attachment orientations (secure, anxious, and avoidant) and whether these perceptions explain the relationship between attachment orientations and prosocial behaviors. A sample of adult participants was investigated through an online questionnaire. To test the mediation model path analysis was applied. Findings show that secure attachment is related to the perception of being qualified by emotional responsiveness and relational skills (human nature traits). Anxious and avoidant attachment are, in contrast, related to self-denial of these traits. Attachment anxiety is also linked to the perception of not being defined by uniquely human characteristics like rationality and self-control. As predicted, humanity self-attributions mediated the relationship between dispositional attachment and prosocial or antisocial orientations. This mediation effect was observed when controlling for self-esteem. Limits and practical implications of findings are discussed.