fei75766_ch05_149-178.indd 173  02/06/20 11:22 AM
Chapter 5    Klein: Object Relations Theory173
Toexplore theroleofattachment inleadership, Rivka Davidovitz andcol-
leagues (2007) studied agroup ofmilitary officers andthesoldiers intheircharge. 
Officers completed thesame measure ofattachment usedinthepreviously discussed 
study onattachment andinformation seeking (Rholes etal.,2007), butrather than
reporting ontheirattachment within aromantic relationship theyreported ontheir
close relationships more generally. Soldiers thencompleted measures oftheeffective -
nessoftheirofficer’s leadership, cohesiveness oftheirmilitary unit,andmeasures of
psychological well-being.
Theresults provided further support ofthegenerality andimportance ofattach -
ment styleinmultiple types ofrelationships. Theunits ofofficers whohadanavoidant 
attachment stylewerelesscohesive andthesoldiers expressed lower psychological 
well-being compared tomembers ofother units. Most likely, these effects ofleaders’ 
avoidant attachment styleareduetotheavoidant officers’ desire toavoid information 
about thesocial andemotional well-being oftheirunit.Anxiously attached officers 
ledunits thatwererated lowoninstrumental functioning (degree towhich soldiers 
taketheirwork seriously). Yet,those same units wererated highonsocioemotional 
functioning (degree towhich soldiers feelfreetoexpress theirthoughts andfeel-
ings). Thislastfinding regarding socioemotional functioning wassurprising tothe
researchers butmakes sense when considering thefindings ofRholes andcolleagues 
discussed above (Rholes etal.,2007): Theanxiously attached officers werelikely 
more interested inseeking outinformation about howtheirsoldiers werefeeling and
howtheyweregetting along withothers.
Another study examined employee–supervisor relationships atrestaurants and
found thatanxious-ambivalent employees (followers) reported experiencing more 
stress when interacting withtheirsupervisor (leader) thanother attachment styles 
(Harms, Bai,&Han, 2016). Moreover, bothleaders’ andfollowers’ attachment styles 
predicted trustlevels, andtrustinturnmediated theimpact ofattachment styles on
workplace outcomes. Theauthors concluded thatleaders whoarewilling andableto
provide emotional support areparticularly effective foranxious-ambivalent followers, 
whofindthatthisform ofleadership helps them build trustandtherefore avoid the
negative workplace outcomes thatresult from mistrust inleadership.
Attachment isaconstruct inpersonality psychology thatcontinues togener -
ateasubstantial amount ofresearch. While thework onattachment theory began as
awaytounderstand differences inparent–child relationships, recent research has
shown thatthose same dynamics (secure, avoidant, andanxious attachment styles) 
areimportant tounderstanding awiderange ofadult relationships—from romantic 
partners tomilitary leaders andsoldiers.
Critique of Object Relations Theory
Currently, object relations theory continues tobemore popular intheUnited King -
domthanitisintheUnited States. The“British School,” which included notonly
Melanie Klein butalsoW.R.D.Fairbairn andD.W.Winnicott, hasexerted astrong 
influence onpsychoanalysts andpsychiatrists intheUnited Kingdom. IntheUnited 
States, however, theinfluence ofobject relations theorists, while growing, hasbeen 
lessdirect.Final PDF to printer