Types of Attachment Styles
What is Attachment Theory?
Attachment theory, developed by John Bowlby in the 1960s, aims to explore the unique patterns of human relationships, bonds, and communication (Holmes, 2014; Levy et al., 2011). It helps to explain how different individuals may react or deal with attachment, grief, loss, intimacy, and separation in close intimate, romantic, or platonic relationships with others (Holmes, 2014). Attachment theorists pay close attention to attachment styles and reactions in infants and how it has impacted their adult relationships and communication styles (Holmes, 2014). Attachment theorists propose that relationships developed between parents and their young children or infants can greatly influence their attachment styles and emotional or mental health as adults (Holmes, 2014).
Types of Attachment Styles
There are four key attachment styles, each with their own set of characteristics. It is important to note that it is possible to have a mix of attachment styles as attachment styles can be constantly changing and fluid (Sutton, 2022).
Secure Attachment: Individuals with a secure attachment style may have experienced supportive and consistently available parents or parental figures in their early years. In their adult years, they may feel secure in relationships, provide others with a sense of openness and support, communicate directly, and can trust others fairly easily (Sutton, 2022).
Anxious Attachment: Individuals with an anxious attachment style may have experienced inconsistency with their parents, guardians, or other parental figures growing up. In their adult years, they may experience people-pleasing tendencies, put others’ needs before their own, fear rejection and abandonment, and may have trouble communicating directly with others (Sutton, 2022).
Avoidant Attachment: Individuals with an avoidant attachment style (also known as dismissive-avoidant attachment style) may have experienced caregivers who may have made them feel neglected. Those with avoidant attachment styles may distance themselves, both emotionally and physically, from relationships with others. They may be highly independent, appear withdrawn, and deal with difficult situations alone (Sutton, 2022).
Disorganized Attachment: Individuals with a disorganized attachment (also known as fearful-avoidance attachment style) may have experienced an untrusting and unpredictable relationship with their parents, guardians, parental figures or caregivers growing up. With this, in their adult relationships they may feel unworthy, fear betrayal, have trouble trusting others, and expect to be rejected by others (Sutton, 2022).
Understanding Attachment Styles
By understanding your attachment styles, you may be better able to recognize and identify patterns within your life and how these patterns can influence current thinking and behavioural patterns, as well as maladaptive beliefs of the self, others, the world, and the future (Levy et al., 2011; Sutton, 2022). In addition, learning about attachment styles and patterns within childhood can be helpful to promote healing within the self and within current relationships with others.
If you are interested in learning about your attachment styles and how they influence your current relationships with others and are interested to begin your therapeutic journey towards healing, please contact us at (647) 267-9853 to book a free phone consultation with one of our therapists. Cara, Sumbul, Jin, and Sam are just some of our therapists who can help with relationship struggles.
References
Holmes, J. (2014). John Bowlby and attachment theory. Routledge.
Levy, K. N., Ellison, W. D., Scott, L. N., & Bernecker, S. L. (2011). Attachment style. Journal of Clinical Psychology, 67(2), 193-203. https://doi.org/10.1002/jclp.20756
Sutton, J. (2022, Jun 30). Attachment styles in therapy: 6 worksheets & handouts.
PositivePsychology. https://positivepsychology.com/attachment-style-worksheets/