People’s attachment orientations change over time and are linked with their relationship experiences. However, it is unclear whether perceptions of a partner’s attachment orientation—which likely reflect (and affect) aspects of a relationship—track with how the partner changes over time. Do people become more accurate judges over time? Further, are changes in judgments of partners’ dispositions affected by how happy people are in their relationships? By examining accuracy and bias in perceptions, and how they are shaped by relationship quality, the present study sheds light on the interpersonal perceptions that may sustain—or hinder—relationships. We employed longitudinal Truth and Bias Models in a sample of 226 newlywed couples followed over a 3-year period. People were generally accurate in perceiving their partners’ attachment, but overestimated their partners’ attachment anxiety and avoidance and often projected their own attachment orientation. These perceptions persisted over time and depended on how the relationship was going.
Oh et al. (Sat,) studied this question.