The Four Attachment Styles

Attachment theory, developed by John Bowlby and expanded by Mary Ainsworth and later Phillip Shaver, describes how early experiences with caregivers create templates for adult romantic relationships. The four main styles:

**Secure (55% of adults):** Comfortable with intimacy and independence; trust comes naturally; conflict is navigable.

**Anxious (20%):** Preoccupied with the relationship; fear of abandonment; high need for reassurance; often hyperaware of partner's emotional state.

**Avoidant (25%):** Uncomfortable with emotional closeness; strong independence need; tends to suppress attachment needs; withdraws under stress.

**Fearful-Avoidant (5-10%):** Wants closeness but fears it simultaneously; oscillates between clinging and withdrawing; often associated with complex trauma.