4 Myths About Attachment Styles

"Adult attachment styles are derived from the work of John Bowlby, Mary Ainsworth, and other researchers throughout the 1960s-90s who identified distinct patterns of emotional responses in babies to their mothers when the latter left and returned to a room. These patterns were categorized into infant attachment styles (secure, insecure-avoidant, and insecure-resistant; later, disorganized) that were subsequently developed and refined into adult attachment styles."

"Dismissive avoidant (aka dismissive): Adults who over-value self-reliance and (often) control, decry vulnerability, may feel uncomfortable providing or receiving support, and often feel uncomfortable with emotional closeness, resulting in them keeping their partners and even their friends or family members at a noticeable emotional distance while downplaying the importance of relationships. (aka preoccupied): Adults who fear and are hypervigilant toward signs of rejection (often interpreting ambiguous cues, like an unread text, as proof"

Attachment styles originate from infant-caregiver interactions identified by Bowlby, Ainsworth, and later researchers and were adapted into adult patterns. Adult styles include secure adults who tolerate intimacy and independence, regulate emotions, seek help, and resolve conflict cooperatively. Dismissive avoidant adults prioritize self-reliance, minimize vulnerability, and keep emotional distance from partners and close others. Preoccupied adults fear rejection, monitor for signs of abandonment, ruminate about relationships, seek proximity and reassurance, and can become emotionally overwhelmed under stress. Attachment styles are not fixed for life and can vary by context and by relationship.

Read at Psychology Today