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 5 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.

Fearful-Avoidant Attachment

Key Traits

Share with your partner

Want to learn more about Fearful-Avoidant Attachment?