Attachment Styles
Adults have four attachment styles: secure, anxious–preoccupied, dismissive–avoidant, and fearful–avoidant. The secure attachment style in adults corresponds to the secure attachment style in children. The anxious–preoccupied attachment style in adults corresponds to the anxious–ambivalent attachment style in children. However, the dismissive–avoidant attachment style and the fearful–avoidant attachment style, which are distinct in adults, correspond to a single avoidant attachment style in children. The descriptions of adult attachment styles offered below are based on the relationship questionnaire devised by Bartholomew and Horowitz and on a review of studies by Pietromonaco and Barrett.
There are several attachment-based treatment approaches that can be used with adults. In addition, there is an approach to treating couples based on attachment theory.
Read more about this topic: Attachment In Adults
Famous quotes containing the words attachment and/or styles:
“My attachment has neither the blindness of the beginning, nor the microscopic accuracy of the close of such liaisons.”
—George Gordon Noel Byron (1788–1824)
“Can we love our children when they are homely, awkward, unkempt, flaunting the styles and friendships we don’t approve of, when they fail to be the best, the brightest, the most accomplished at school or even at home? Can we be there when their world has fallen apart and only we can restore their faith and confidence in life?”
—Neil Kurshan (20th century)