Effects of attachment styles and Dark Tetrad traits on breakup strategies

The aim of this study was to explore the effects of attachment styles and Dark Tetrad traits on breakup strategies (avoidance/withdrawal, positive tone/self-blame, open confrontation, cost escalation, manipulation, distant/mediated communication and de-escalation). The sample comprised 449 adults (75.35 % women) from Serbia with experience in intimate relationships. The results showed that the preoccupied attachment style and secondary psychopathy are associated with most breakup strategies, while none of the predictors were significantly related to positive tone/self-blame. Additionally, the fearful style was associated with open confrontation and distant/mediated communication, whereas the dismissing style was linked to cost escalation. Among the 7 Dark Tetrad traits, primary and secondary psychopathy were related to open confrontation, manipulation, cost escalation and de-escalation. Secondary psychopathy was also associated with distant/mediated communication. Machiavellianism and narcissistic admiration were negatively related to open confrontation, while narcissistic rivalry was positively related to cost escalation. Finally, sadism was negatively associated with avoidance/withdrawal and positively with de-escalation. Overall, detrimental ways of breaking up are present in insecure attachment styles and dark traits, with specific patterns of associations depending on attachment quality or dark trait in question.