By Sitetrail Research Team

Attachment styles can change. Unlock the secrets to healthy adult relationships by discovering how attachment styles impact our behavior.

Introduction: 

You’ve probably heard the term “attachment style” thrown around recently. Although the theory has been around for decades, it’s experienced a recent resurgence in online social media trends. Some people are even claiming that your attachment style can determine if your relationship will fail or not…is there any truth to this?

While most psychologists and mental health specialists agree that there is truth to attachment theory, its implications in adult romantic relationships are a little more complicated. This article will dive into what attachment theory is, how it influences our adult relationships, and if your attachment style could be sabotaging your relationship. 

What Is Attachment Theory? 

Attachment theory is a psychological theory that focuses on the importance of early emotional bonds between infants and their caregivers, and the impact of those bonds on an individual’s development and relationships later in life. According to the theory, a child’s attachment style is shaped by the caregiver’s sensitivity and responsiveness to their needs during infancy and beyond. The four main types of attachment styles are secure, anxious/ambivalent, avoidant, and disorganized.

1. Secure attachment: Children with a secure attachment style tend to feel safe and secure when their caregiver is present, and they use their caregiver as a “secure base” from which to explore their environment.
2. Anxious/ambivalent attachment: Children with an anxious/ambivalent attachment style are often anxious and uncertain about their caregiver’s availability and responsiveness. They may become clingy or overly dependent on their caregiver and have difficulty exploring their environment.
3. Avoidant attachment: Children with an avoidant attachment style tend to avoid or ignore their caregiver, and they may seem indifferent to their caregiver’s presence or absence. They may also have difficulty forming close relationships later in life.
4. Disorganized attachment: Children with a disorganized attachment style often exhibit contradictory behaviors towards their caregiver, such as approaching them but then quickly backing away. They may also display unusual behaviors, such as freezing or collapsing when in the presence of their caregiver. A disorganized attachment style is often associated with experiences of abuse or neglect.

Attachment theory suggests that early attachment experiences can influence an individual’s patterns of emotional regulation, communication, and behavior in future relationships. While the theory has been criticized for oversimplifying the complexity of human relationships, it remains relevant in many areas of psychology and continues to inform research and clinical practice.

How Do Attachment Styles Influence Our Adult Relationships?

Attachment styles influence our adult relationships by setting up our expectations for how others will react to us in relationships. Let’s look at some examples:

Scenario: Your partner comes home from work and instead of hanging out with you, says they’re really tired and need some introvert …read more

Source:: Social Media Explorer

Author: Aaron