Adult Romantic Attachment: Theoretical Developments, Emerging Controversies, and Unanswered Questions

“When Hazan and Shaver (1987) began their work on romantic attachment, they adopted Ainsworth's three-category scheme as a framework for organizing individual differences in the way adults think, feel, and behave in romantic relationships.”

“While resistant attachment is characterized by an anxious style and high motivation for affiliation as a means of maximizing the chances for proximity and feelings of acceptance, avoidant attachment is characterized by a dismissing style and diminished motivation for affiliation [42, 43].”

“Rom andMikulincer (2003) found that a person’s attachment orientations (anxiety, avoidance) affect cognition, effect, and behavior during group interactions, and Smith et al. (1999) showed that variations along these attachment orientations underlie a person’s identification with, and commitment to…”

“…to understand romantic relationships has been empirically refuted (against popular belief); not all romantic relationships are attachment relationships in that not everybody relies on their partners as a ‘safe haven’ in times of distress or ‘secure base’ for exploration (Fraley & Shaver, 2000).”

“…of attachment theory, subsequent researchers have contributed to this theory, focusing on expanding individual differences in attachment process (e.g., Ainsworth et al. 1978), and extending attachment experiences in the context of romantic relationships in adults (e.g., Fraley & Shaver, 2000).”

“From an analytic point of view, categorical measures also present limited statistical power and psychometric properties when compared with dimensional scales (Fraley & Shaver, 2000; Ravitz et al., 2010).”

“…in fact, it is now possible to predict the type of interpersonal dynamics most likely to be identified in an adult subject, as well as the processes of emotional regulation and satisfaction of needs, even if not primarily sexual, where the sexuality can be a metaphorical representative [29–32].”

“Over time, IWMs are crystallized into attachment orientations – relatively stable patterns of relational cognitions, emotions, and behaviors (Fraley & Shaver, 2000).”

“Individuals with an avoidant attachment style aim to avoid closeness, emotional bonding, and intimacy, which otherwise would lead to discomfort (Fraley & Shaver, 2000).”

“Experience in Close Relationships Questionnaire (ECR-R): The ECR-R is measures attachment anxiety in close relationships using 18 items and a 6-point Likert scale (Fraley & Shaver, 2000; Sibley et al., 2005).”

“Because of this, attachment styles, which refer to the typical ways in which an individual interacts with others in the context of close relationships, are thought to be consistent across relationships and persistent throughout the lifespan (Fraley & Shaver, 2000).”

“…reflects a continuum of one’s vulnerability to rejection and perceived threat to security, while attachment avoidance reflects a continuum of response to perceived security threats (low avoidant people seek contact, high avoidant people distance themselves from others; Fraley & Shaver, 2000).”

“…of the relationship, such as Big 5 personality characteristics (Malouff, Thorsteinsson, Schutte, Bhullar, and Rooke 2010), attachment styles (Fraley and Shaver 2000; Simpson 1990), love for a partner (Berscheid and Regan 2005), and emotional intelligence (Malouff, Schutte, and Thorsteinsson…”

“Individuals who are high in attachment anxiety wish to minimize physical, emotional, and cognitive distance between themselves and their partners by engaging in demanding or controlling behavior in an effort to gain attention and support (Fraley & Shaver, 2000).”

“In healthy adult relationships, the caregiving and receiving roles are shared between partners (Fraley & Shaver, 2000).”

“Insecure attachment is handled in two basic dimensions, namely attachmentrelated avoidance and attachment-related anxiety (Fraley et al., 2000; Fraley & Shaver, 2000; Fraley & Waller, 1998).”

“Avoidance reflects the degree to which a person distrusts the goodwill of another and tries to maintain their independence and emotional distance from the other [23,24]; it is characterized by negative representations of others, forced self-confidence and preference for emotional distance [25-28].”

“Over time, such interactions of an individual guide the formation of certain patterns of thought, emotion, and behaviour as to how relationships should be, as well as the development of internal processes concerning one ’ s relational self (Fraley & Shaver, 2000).”

“Like others (e.g., Cassidy, 2000; Fraley & Shaver, 2000), Waters et al. (2000) concluded that there was much evidence supporting this stability of attachment hypothesis.”

“…evident, and possibly most essential in early years, it is active over the entire life span and is manifested in thoughts and behaviors related to seeking proximity and contact with attachment figures in times of threat or need (Allen & Land, 1999; Allen & Manning, 2007; Fraley & Shaver, 2000).”

“Many researchers find that even relationships that do not qualify as true attachments still serve ‘attachment-related functions’ (Fraley & Shaver, 2000 ).”

“Adult attachment relationships differ from child–caregiver attachments primarily in that the adult relationship thrives on mutual emotional dependence and reciprocal caregiving where spouses take turns responding to the distress or fear of their partner (Fraley & Shaver, 2000).”

“To adapt to caregiver unavailability, deactivating attachment strategies typically ensue (i.e., the minimisation of proximity seeking behaviours) (Bartholomew & Horowitz, 1991; Fraley & Shaver, 2000).”

“Finally, our findings are interesting to consider from the perspective of adult attachment, which places heavy emphasis on the close emotional bond in intimate relationships (Fraley and Shaver 2000).”

“Dimensional examination of individual differences in attachment allows for greater nuance and specificity than a categorical system (Fraley & Shaver, 2000).”

“attachment system in relationships with significant others throughout the life span [19,27], it seems relevant to further understand whether insecure attachment patterns found in hikikomori infancy [23] may ultimately impact relational patterns toward significant peers in adulthood and contribute to withdrawal behavio…”

“Attachment anxiety is associated with overestimation of relationship threats and underestimation of the partner’s commitment (Collins, 1996; Fraley & Shaver, 2000).”

“According to some authors, the relationship length of a dyad is important for developing a dyadic identity (Fincham et al., 2005; Fraley & Shaver, 2000), while others point out that interdependence is not necessarily subject to relationship length, but rather to duration of cohabitation (Sels et…”

“These IWM contribute to explaining differences in the way individuals evaluate, appraise, and behave in close relationships throughout their lifespan (Fraley & Shaver, 2000; Mikulincer & Shaver, 2016).”

“Trust toward the service firm and its personnel Research in social psychology suggests that for a relationship to be considered an attachment relationship, the attachment figure should promote the other party’s feelings of security and confidence (Fraley and Shaver, 2000; Mikulincer, 1998).”

“Research investigating attachment in adulthood has identified two dimensions (Fraley & Shaver, 2000).”

“Conversely, Attachment avoidance refers to longstanding tendencies of being emotionally detached in interpersonal relationships and in being uncomfortable in situations of emotional intimacy (Fraley & Shaver, 2000; Maccallum & Bryant, 2018; Mikulincer et al., 2003).”

“…framework for examining romantic and sexual relationships, as clear ideas about traditional femininity (emotional, nurturing, caring, connected) and masculinity (nonemotional, disconnected, protective, detached) inform understandings about how these relationships evolve (Fraley & Shaver, 2000).”

“Apego Adulto: ECR-Brasil 462 relacionamento amoroso no momento da pesquisa; como classificava seu relacionamento dentre as opções casado, união estável, noivado, namoro, rolo, ficando, amizade colorida, apenas sexo; o tempo de duração do relacionamento atual.”

“Although both the conceptualization and measurement of attachment style have varied across studies, most investigators agree that two primary dimensions are involved (Bartholomew & Horowitz, 1991; Brennan, Clark, & Shaver, 1998; Fraley & Shaver, 2000; Fraley & Spieker, 2003).”

“Those high in attachment avoidance are described as being uncomfortable with relying on others for support and tend to use “deactivating” emotion regulation strategies that inhibit or suppress distressing relational experiences (Brennan et al., 1998; Fraley & Shaver, 2000).”

“Based on significant others reactions to their attachment behaviours, individuals make specific attachment experiences (Wei, Vogel, Ku, & Zakalik, 2005), leading to individual differences in attachment orientations (Fraley & Shaver, 2000).”

“Given that individuals with high attachment anxiety frequently have an excessive need to connect with others (Brennan et al., 1998; Fraley & Shaver, 2000), and are also always unmet in terms of basic psychological needs (Boustead & Flack, 2021), they may suffer greater FoMO.”

“Individuals who are high in attachment anxiety are more vigilant about possible rejection and have a reduced threshold for detecting threats to security (Fraley & Shaver, 2000).”

“Attachment is organized around two dimensions: attachment anxiety and attachment avoidance (Fraley & Shaver, 2000).”

“Adult attachment was measured using the revised version of the Experience in Close Relationships Scale (ECR-R; [45]).”

“This study also explored EAs’ global adult attachment orientations, which are thought to provide a framework through which individuals approach intimate relationships with others, including family, peers, and romantic partners (Fraley & Shaver, 2000).”

“field forward; however, given the association between attachment orientations and stress, it is likely that attachment orientations are associated with broad health outcomes [94].”

“The dimensional approach accurately reflects individual differences in attachment as compared to the categorical approach that uses conceptualization into secure, anxious, and avoidant attachment styles (Fraley & Shaver, 2000).”

“Evidence from Fraley and Shaver (2000) substantiates this notion in that people with secure attachment styles exhibit greater resilience and adaptive coping mechanisms in the face of adversity compared to people with insecure attachment styles.”

“According to this theory, emotional and behavioral dynamics of adult romantic relationships are directed by the same biological systems that steer physical or psychological proximity to a partner (Fraley & Shaver, 2000) and promote survival and safety (Bowlby, 1969).”

“Attachment styles were assessed using the Experiences in Close Relationships-Revised Questionnaire [28].”

“Like children, adults seek to maintain proximity to their attachment figures, who provide both a “secure base” for exploration and a “safe haven” in times of stress (Fraley & Shaver, 2000; Mikulincer & Florian, 1998).”

“The women demonstrated high levels of relationship anxiety and can be best classified as having a preoccupied attachment style (high anxiety, low avoidance) according to Fraley and Shaver (2000) Fraley and Shaver (2000) described the preoccupied attached person as having low thresholds for detecting signs of rejection…”

“According to Bowlby (1969) and others (Collins and Read, 1990; Fraley and Shaver, 2000; Hamilton, 2000; Hazan and Shaver, 1987; Main, 2000; Roisman et al., 2002; Sroufe, 2005; Waters et al., 2000), it is in the early Two is a perfect number: Patient–doctor relationship and patient attachment style in palliative care”

“Individuals who have high levels of both avoidance and anxiety have been termed fearful (Fraley & Shaver, 2000).”