Question 1

What are the 4 attachment styles?

Accepted Answer

The four attachment styles are: Secure (comfortable with intimacy and independence), Anxious (craves closeness but fears abandonment), Avoidant (values independence, uncomfortable with closeness), and Fearful-Avoidant or Disorganised (simultaneously wants love but fears it). These styles develop in childhood based on caregiver interactions and affect how we relate in adult relationships.

Question 2

How do I know my attachment style?

Accepted Answer

You can discover your attachment style by taking a quiz based on the ECR-R (Experiences in Close Relationships - Revised) framework. The quiz measures two dimensions — attachment anxiety and attachment avoidance — to determine your style. It takes about 2 minutes and gives you an instant result with personalised guidance.

Question 3

Can you change your attachment style?

Accepted Answer

Yes. Research shows approximately 25-30% of people change their attachment style over a 4-year period. The most common shift is from insecure to secure, especially through therapy (particularly Emotionally Focused Therapy), self-awareness practices, and supportive relationships. This is called developing 'earned security.'

Question 4

What is the most common attachment style?

Accepted Answer

Secure attachment is the most common, with approximately 50-60% of the population. Around 20% have anxious attachment, 25% have avoidant attachment, and 3-5% have fearful-avoidant (disorganised) attachment.

Question 5

How accurate is an online attachment style quiz?

Accepted Answer

Online attachment style quizzes based on established psychological frameworks like the ECR-R can give you a reliable indication of your attachment patterns. However, they are screening tools, not clinical diagnoses. For a comprehensive assessment, consider working with a therapist trained in attachment theory.

Question 6

Is attachment theory scientifically supported?

Accepted Answer

Yes, attachment theory is one of the most extensively researched frameworks in psychology. Originally developed by John Bowlby and Mary Ainsworth in the 1960s-70s, it has been supported by decades of research across developmental psychology, neuroscience, and relationship science, including brain imaging studies showing how attachment patterns affect neural processing.

Which attachment style is your partner or ex?