Preview

Adult Attachment Styles and Romantic Relationships

Best Essays
Open Document
Open Document
2229 Words
Grammar
Grammar
Plagiarism
Plagiarism
Writing
Writing
Score
Score
Adult Attachment Styles and Romantic Relationships
Abstract
In 1987, the Attachment Theory extended to include the bonds between adults and their romantic partners; the extension includes the concept of the secure, the anxious-preoccupied, the dismissive-avoidant, and the fearful-avoidant attachment styles. Current research, in the form of cross-sectional and longitudinal studies, predicts adults exhibit attachment styles during the forming, maintenance, and separation process. The research utilized the experiences in close relationships inventory and the relationship maintenance questionnaire to find their conclusion. The findings concluded the association among the adult attachment features like closeness, safe haven, and secure base develop over time during the forming, maintenance, and separation process. In addition, the conclusion display the effectiveness of both clinical and non clinical exposure treatments in the growth and preservation of the secure attachment style behaviors utilized in romantic relationships.
Keywords: attachment styles, romantic relationships, partners, adults, secure, insecure
Adult Attachment Styles and Romantic Relationships
More than half of the world’s adults are involved in a romantic relationship. The most common romantic relationship includes the sexual dating relationship, the domestic partnership, or the marriage. The adults or partners involved in these relationships inevitably reach a point of conflict. How the relationship partners react to the conflict displays whether the partners are acting as a securely attached person or an insecurely attached person. The securely attached adult portrays a happy person when dealing with relationship issues. Whereas, an insecurely attached adult is an unhappy person when dealing with relationship issues. Adults should strive for the secure attachment style for the best satisfaction level, commitment level, and ability to adapt to change in their romantic relationship.
Background
In 1952, John Bowlby originally designed the



References: Ehrenberg, M. F., Roberts, M., & Pringle, J. (2012). Attachment Style and Marital Commitment in the Context of Remarriage. Journal of Divorce and Remarriage, 53(3), pp 204-219. doi: 10. 1080/10502556.2012.663270 Feldman, R Heffernan, M. E., Fraley, R. C., Vicary, A. M., & Brumbaugh, C. C. (2012). Attachment Features and Functions in Adult Relationships. Journal of Social and Personal Relationships, 29(5), pp 671-693. doi: 10.1177/0265407512443435 Juhl, J., Sand, E Mikulincer, M & Shaver, P. R. (2012). Adult Attachment Orientations and Relationship Processes. Journal of Family Theory and Review, 4(4), pp 259-274. doi: 10. 1111/j. 1756-2589.2012.00142.x Nudson-Martin, C Pittman, J. F. (2012). Attachment Orientations: A Boon to Family Theory and Review. Journal of Family Theory and Review, 4(4), pp 306-310. doi: 10.1111/j.1756-2589.2012.00133.x Poulsen, F Selcuk, E., Zayas, V.., & Hazan, C. (2010). Marital Satisfaction: The Role of Attachment in Marital Function. Journal of Family Theory and Review, 2(4), pp 258-259. doi: 10. 1111/j.1756-2589.2010.00061.x

You May Also Find These Documents Helpful

  • Powerful Essays

    Theories and research into adult attachment suggests that the effects of the close emotional bond between parent and child in early life could be responsible for the bond that develops between adults in emotionally intimate relationships during adult life. In line with this, the aim of this report is to offer an overview of the history of attachment theories and the key theoretical ideas through using thematic analysis of a semi structured interview. Findings for this study come an interview with a middle-aged British woman about her own experiences in terms of relationships with parental figures during early age and how those relationships have affected her adult relationships.…

    • 2601 Words
    • 11 Pages
    Powerful Essays
  • Best Essays

    Ma, K. (2006, 12). Attachment Theory in adult psychiatry. Part 1: Conceptualizations, measurement and clinical research findings. Retrieved 11 7, 2011, from Advances in Psychiatric Treatment: http://apt.rcpsych.org/content/12/6/440.full…

    • 1557 Words
    • 7 Pages
    Best Essays
  • Good Essays

    A Meta-analysis, performed by Van Ijzendoorn and Kroonenberg (1988) showed how possibly, cultural variations may result in differences in attachment types. Looking at the findings from 2000 Strange Situation (SSC) classifications from 32 studies from 8 different countries, they found that although secure attachment was the most common attachment across all the countries, there were significant differences in the distribution of insecure avoidant and insecure resistant attachment types. Western cultures, or individualist cultures, which value independence had a more dominant insecure avoidant proportion, whereas non-western cultures, or collectivist cultures, which value dependence, a more dominant insecure resistant. For example, West Germany had 35% insecure avoidant compared to 8% insecure resistant, whereas Israel had 7% insecure avoidant compared to 29% insecure resistant.…

    • 508 Words
    • 3 Pages
    Good Essays
  • Powerful Essays

    PSYCH 600 Attachment Style

    • 1155 Words
    • 4 Pages

    Birth to three is the most crucial time for an individual when it comes to forming attachment styles. Bartholomew (1990) defines attachment styles as modes of social interactions reflecting how people view themselves as well as others. Bartholomew’s (1990) concept of attachment style crosses two theoretically derived dimensions: a mental mode of self and a mental model of others. The mental mode of one’s self is based on whether a person has an internalized sense of self-worth. The mental mode of others is based on whether a person sees involvement with others to be rewarding. When crossing these dimensions four unique attachment styles emerge; secure, dismissive, fearful, and preoccupied.…

    • 1155 Words
    • 4 Pages
    Powerful Essays
  • Powerful Essays

    Write a 700- to 1,050-word response explaining how you believe an individual’s attachment style can affect the types of love relationships he or she has.…

    • 1368 Words
    • 6 Pages
    Powerful Essays
  • Good Essays

    In this essay I will discuss a brief overview of the development of the attachment theory as well as further elaborate on the phases within the attachment…

    • 211 Words
    • 1 Page
    Good Essays
  • Good Essays

    Bowlby Attachment Theory

    • 493 Words
    • 2 Pages

    In the 1980s, Cindy Hazan and Phillip Shaver were able to garner a lot of attention, then, when they turned attachment theory on adult relationships. In their studies, they looked at a number of couples, examining the nature of the attachments between them, and then observed how those couples reacted to various stressors and stimuli. In the case of adults, it would seem that a strong attachment is still quite important. For example, in cases where the adults had a weak attachment, there were feelings of inadequacy on the part of both parties. When attachments were too strong, there were issues with co-dependency. The relationships functioned best when both parties managed to balance intimacy with independence. Much as is the case with developing children, the ideal situation seemed to be an attachment that functioned as a secure base from which to reach out and gain experience in the world.…

    • 493 Words
    • 2 Pages
    Good Essays
  • Good Essays

    This essay describes and evaluates the contributions of Bowlby, Ainsworth, Murray-Parkes, Kubler-Ross and Worden, as well as later theorists, to their respective fields. I demonstrate how I already work with some of these models, highlighting my strengths and areas for development. I emphasise some influences on Bowlby’s work, leading to his trilogy Attachment 1969; Separation 1973; and Loss, Sadness and Depression 1980; demonstrating how attachments in infancy may shape our attachment styles in later life. Pietromonaco and Barrett posit “A central tenet of attachment theory is that people develop mental representations, or internal working models that consist of expectations about the self, significant others and the relationship between…

    • 5998 Words
    • 24 Pages
    Good Essays
  • Good Essays

    Humans are social beings and need to be with others and form relationships but our relationship behaviors do not "come naturally" and they need to be learned similar to other social skills (Schneider, Gruman & Coutts, 2005, p.77). Many psychologists argue that the kind of relationships infants have with their primary caregivers is the blueprint for the later life relationships (Schneider, Gruman & Coutts, 2005). Behaviors in adult relationships' are influenced by the kinds of relationships and attachments they have experienced in their early years with their primary caregivers. This is the basic perspective of the theory of attachment styles that claims that the kind of bonds we form early in life influence…

    • 1236 Words
    • 5 Pages
    Good Essays
  • Better Essays

    Bowlby's Attachment Theory

    • 1073 Words
    • 5 Pages

    Bowlby ([1969] 1982) and Ainsworth (1978) defined an attachment as an enduring affective bond characterized by a tendency to seek and maintain proximity to a specific figure particularly when under stress. It is a long-lasting relationship, not a transient…

    • 1073 Words
    • 5 Pages
    Better Essays
  • Good Essays

    When looking at the types of attachment styles and how they affect the type of love relationship an individual may have, we take a look at the infant who can only survive if the parent is willing to meet the basic needs of the infant. In this stage of our life we form bonds with our caregivers mainly our parents and most of the time the primary caregiver is our mother. The bond between mother and infant tends to be a strong considering it is the mother who is taking care of the infant’s basic needs. In the textbook it states “Our most important first question is: Can I count on my caregiver to be available when needed?” Bolt, M. (2004) Pursuing human strengths: A positive psychology guide. New York, NY: Worth Publishers. (p.22), in my own opinion when looking at the first attachment style which is secure attachment I would say that an individual has experience this type of care from their caregiver would have a stable love relationship with those around them being that they would be able to relate to others better because they have been shown that their caregiver will be there for them even if they should leave them for a lengthy period of time. I would say the individuals that experience these types of relationships may tend to be more well-adjusted in their relationships and will form stronger bonds within these relationships, in this case I would say these individuals are happier, more independent, and will most likely have healthier meaningful interactions in their love relationships, which is a positive aspect when developing life-long partnerships with those around them. In the second attachment style which is avoidant individuals who have cold caregivers will start displaying those same traits that they have been exposed to by the person who is caring for them, they show little distress when during periods of separation and do not cling upon reunion with their parent, these…

    • 797 Words
    • 2 Pages
    Good Essays
  • Good Essays

    Family Attachment Theory

    • 686 Words
    • 3 Pages

    This paper focused on attachment theory and the impact of close relationships on psychological development.…

    • 686 Words
    • 3 Pages
    Good Essays
  • Satisfactory Essays

    All of us have been in love at least once in our lives. But have you ever wondered why people behave in a certain way in a relationship? Think about the people around you. Do you have a particular friend whom is always in and out of a relationship? Was it the other party’s fault for the break up? Or was it your friend’s problem? The foundation of a relationship depends on one’s attachment style. Attachment refers to the particular way you relate to others, and style of attachment is the way we perceive and respond to intimacy in romantic relationships. Our attachment styles affect our partner selection, interaction, and relationship progress; as it determines if it evolves into a short-term or long-term relationship. Relationship attachment…

    • 142 Words
    • 1 Page
    Satisfactory Essays
  • Good Essays

    There are several attachment styles that a child can develop in infancy. Ainsworth (1971) divided these into secure, insecure-avoidant and insecure-resistant, when working on her ‘Strange Situation’ research. The characteristics we associate with attachment styles will provide a child with a set of beliefs about themselves and the nature of relationships with others. These attachment styles can be seen as a indicator of the nature of their future adult relationships. For example, someone who is securely attached as a child can expect to have similar relationships throughout life.…

    • 821 Words
    • 4 Pages
    Good Essays
  • Powerful Essays

    Adult Attachment Theory

    • 1899 Words
    • 8 Pages

    The forces that drive relationships between individuals and the affects those forces have on them, define the theory of attachment. It is said to have become the “dominant approach in understanding interpersonal relationships” (Bretherton, 1992). The relationships…

    • 1899 Words
    • 8 Pages
    Powerful Essays