The Four Attachment Styles

These blueprints manifest as four primary attachment styles: secure, anxious-preoccupied, dismissive-avoidant, and fearful-avoidant. Let’s explore each one.

Attachment Style

Attachment theory, developed by psychologist John Bowlby, proposes that our early experiences with caregivers create internal working models of relationships – essentially, blueprints for how we expect relationships to function. These blueprints manifest as four primary attachment styles: secure, anxious-preoccupied, dismissive-avoidant, and fearful-avoidant. Let’s explore each one.

Secure Attachment

In terms of attachment styles, secure attachment is considered to be the “gold standard.” This type of attachment style is what everyone should ideally aspire for.

Securely attached people tend to radiate an aura of positivity. They are comfortable in most situations, more intimate, and can express themselves well because they trust and have a strong connection with their partners.

In addition, they can regulate their emotions and navigate conflict effectively.

Anxious-Preoccupied Attachment

Individuals categorized under this attachment style lack self-esteem and crave intimacy. They need constant validation and reassurance because of their fear of abandonment, trust issues, and negative self-worth.

Moreover, anxious attachment manifests in unreasonable jealousy or possessiveness toward a partner. They likewise show over-dependency on a partner but have difficulty relying too much on them.

Dismissive-Avoidant Attachment​

People who seem emotionally detached and reserved fall under this classification. Due to their inherent nature, they mostly avoid emotional closeness and have difficulty forming close and long-term relationships.

They tend to rely only on themselves and keep things to themselves because they believe dependence on others comes with risks. It’s like they have built a wall around themselves to avoid the risk of eventual rejection, abandonment, or getting negatively judged.

Fearful-Avoidant Attachment

People with this kind of trait are somewhat of a mixed bag. They exhibit conflicting emotions, often leading to anxiety and uncertainty in relationships.

This style could stem from a traumatic experience, especially during childhood. It could also relate to neglect or abuse in the past.

Fearful-avoidant individuals have a hard time dating and could have an averse response to intimacy. They usually cut off connections with people prematurely because they fear disappointment or getting hurt in the long run.

Want to learn even more about your attachment style? Explore our in-depth resources on each individual style.