Date of Graduation

12-2016

Document Type

Thesis

Degree Name

Bachelor of Science in Human Environmental Sciences

Degree Level

Undergraduate

Department

Human Development, Family Sciences and Rural Sociology

Advisor/Mentor

Wiersma-Mosley, Jacquelyn

Committee Member

Jozkowski, Kristen

Second Committee Member

Becnel, Jennifer

Abstract

The current study examined the relationship between attachment style, self-esteem, and narcissism as they pertain to behavioral tendencies termed Love-Bombing behaviors among a sample of young adult Millennials. Love-Bombing was identified as the presence of excessive communication at the beginning of a relationship in order to passively obtain power and control over another’s life as a means of narcissistic self-enhancement. The sample consisted of 484 college students from a large southern university who ranged in age 18-30. The results indicated that Love-Bombing was positively correlated with narcissistic tendencies, avoidant attachment, anxious attachment, and negatively correlated with self-esteem. Love-Bombing was also associated with more text and media usage within romantic relationships. In conclusion, Love-Bombing was found to be a logical and potentially necessary strategy for romantic relationships among individuals with high displays of narcissism and low levels of self-esteem. This is the first study to empirically examine Love-Bombing behaviors, thus future research needs to address the impact that these behaviors have on young adult relationships.

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