4. Attachment Styles: Positive/Negative, Fearful, Secure & More

fearful-avoidant attachment

Adults characterized in this attachment style have a negative view of both themselves and others. They display a confusing mix of neediness and fear of being close to others. They commonly do not trust the intentions of their partners or others and often suppress their own feelings.

dismissive-avoidant attachment

Adults with a dismissing style of attachment possess a positive view of themselves, but a negative view of others and of close relationships. Adults in this style of attachment often feel they do not need relationships, self-guarding themselves from pain or abandonment that may occur should the relationship end. They find it hard to trust others and often keep people at a distance.

anxious-preoccupied attachment

Adults with this style of attachment may have a positive view of others but feel like they can't be loved themselves. Adults with this style seek high levels of closeness and intimacy and become overly dependent on their partners. They may become 'clingy' and are fearful and anxious about their partner. They have anxiety that their partner has a less positive view about them and also blame themselves when things go wrong in the relationship.

Adult and infant-parent attachment share the following features:

Both feel safe when the other is physically nearby and seek to engage in close, bodily contact Both feel insecure when the other is unavailable or not nearby Both share new events and discoveries with each other

researchers offered the following assumptions regarding attachment that apply to adult attachment or infant-parent attachment:

First, humans are biologically driven to form attachments with others, and these attachments are formed through learning experiences Second, there are different attachment styles depending on the beliefs and expectations people have about their relationships Third, differences in attachment styles can influence one's mental health and quality of relationships with others

Lesson Summary

In summary, adult attachment research is based off of the extensive research conducted on attachment between infants and parents. Many similarities exist between the two types of attachment styles, including that adults and infants feel safe and seek to be physically close to one another, both feel insecure when the other is not nearby, and both share new events and explore with each other. Adult attachment styles are characterized in four ways: secure, anxious-preoccupied, dismissive-avoidant, and fearful-avoidant. Secure attached adults hold a positive view of themselves and others and are unafraid to enter relationships and feel free to explore independently. This type of adult attachment is similar to the secure attachment style among infants. Anxious-preoccupied adults hold a negative view of themselves but a positive view of others. They seek high levels of closeness but worry about abandonment and are anxious that they cause the problems in the relationship. This type of adult attachment is similar to the resistant or anxious-ambivalent attachment style among infants. The dismissive-avoidant adult holds a positive self-view, but a negative view of others. Adults here often shut out emotions and dismiss the importance of relationships. This type of adult attachment is similar to the avoidant attachment style among infants. Finally, the fearful-avoidant adult holds a negative view of both self and others. They need relationships but exhibit confusing signals and fear being close to others. This type of adult attachment is similar to the disorganized-disoriented attachment style among infants.

Adult Attachment Styles

Researchers identified four types of attachment styles among adults: secure, anxious-preoccupied, dismissive-avoidant, and fearful-avoidant.

The people who do experience a change in attachment styles may have the following:

Serious life events or circumstances, such as finding out that one has a terminal condition Change in a view on relationships, such as experiencing an abrupt end to a long-term relationship Personality variables, such as a change to one's values and beliefs Or a combination of all of the above

Change in Attachment Styles over Time

While attachment changes from infancy to adulthood, researchers have found that most people (between 70-80%) do not experience significant changes in attachment styles over time.

Adults categorized as having secure attachment

feel good about themselves and others. They are not afraid of entering relationships or being abandoned if they do enter these types of relationships. This style of attachment typically occurs if the adult has had a history of positive interactions and relationships with partners. Securely attached adults often report greater satisfaction in their relationships, with flexibility and mutual understanding between the two partners.

adult attachment

refers to types of romantic relationships held between adults.