{"id":67178,"date":"2021-06-18T12:36:33","date_gmt":"2021-06-18T12:36:33","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.marriage.com\/advice\/?p=67178"},"modified":"2023-06-18T12:36:33","modified_gmt":"2023-06-18T12:36:33","slug":"insecure-attachment-style","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.marriage.com\/advice\/mental-health\/insecure-attachment-style\/","title":{"rendered":"Insecure Attachment Style: Types, Causes & Ways to Overcome"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

\"A<\/p>\n

Most people who have an interest in psychology have heard of the benefits of attachment. Developed by psychologist John Bowlby, <\/span>attachment theory<\/span><\/a> states that young children develop attachments to at least one adult who provides comfort when they are afraid, vulnerable, or distressed.<\/span><\/p>\n

Mary Ainsworth<\/span><\/a> later outlined different types of attachment, one of which is the insecure attachment style. Under this umbrella, there are three specific insecure attachment patterns, leading <\/span>problems in adult relationships<\/span><\/a>. <\/span><\/p>\n

<\/span>What is an insecure attachment style?<\/span><\/h2>\n

The insecure attachment style describes a pattern of interaction in relationships in which a person displays fear or uncertainty. It is in contrast to a <\/span>secure attachment,<\/span><\/a> in which a person feels safe and comforted around their partner during times of distress.<\/span><\/p>\n

People who receive consistent care and nurturing as children become secure in their attachments.<\/span><\/p>\n

On the other hand, individuals who show insecure attachment patterns have high levels of <\/span>anxiety in their relationships<\/span><\/a> and do not feel confident that their partners will <\/span>meet their needs<\/span><\/a>.<\/span><\/p>\n

This can lead to relationship conflict as well as difficulty forming close relationships with others. It is not surprising that a review of the <\/span>research<\/span><\/a> shows that individuals who are insecure in relationships have lower levels of <\/span>satisfaction with their relationships<\/span><\/a>.<\/span><\/p>\n

Related Reading: <\/i><\/b>Signs Indicating Insecurity in Relationships<\/span><\/i><\/a><\/pre>\n
<\/span>3 Types of insecure attachment<\/span><\/h2>\n
An insecure attachment is an umbrella term that describes people who approach <\/span>relationships with fear<\/span><\/a> and distress, but there are several types of insecure attachment patterns:<\/span><\/p>\n
1. Insecure-ambivalent attachment<\/b><\/h3>\n
In people with this attachment style, insecure behavior manifests itself in the form of <\/span>clinginess<\/span><\/a>. <\/span><\/p>\n
Someone who is insecure-ambivalent will need frequent reassurance from their partner, and they may be fearful of being abandoned. This attachment style is also sometimes called insecure resistant attachment.<\/span><\/p>\n
Related Reading: <\/i><\/b>Ambivalent Attachment in Adults<\/span><\/i><\/a><\/pre>\n
2. Insecure-avoidant attachment<\/b><\/h3>\n
This attachment style is associated with dismissive behavior in relationships.<\/span><\/p>\n
A person with this type of attachment will <\/span>avoid intimacy<\/span><\/a> and have difficulty developing close relationships with a partner or <\/span>being vulnerable<\/span><\/a> with a partner.<\/span><\/p>\n
Related Reading: <\/i><\/b>Avoidant Attachment Style - Definition, Types & Treatment<\/span><\/i><\/a><\/pre>\n
3. Insecure disorganized attachment<\/b><\/h3>\n
Insecure behavior with this type of attachment style can be somewhat erratic.<\/span><\/p>\n
Someone with an insecure disorganized attachment has difficulty coping with distress and will have no real pattern associated with attachment.<\/span><\/p>\n
The three above types of insecurities can lead to difficulty in romantic relationships and intimate connections with others.<\/span><\/p>\n
Related Reading: <\/i><\/b>Types of Anxious Attachment and How to Overcome Them<\/span><\/i><\/a><\/pre>\n
<\/span>What causes insecure attachment?<\/b><\/span><\/h2>\n
Insecure attachment theory provides guidelines for causes of insecurity in relationships, and many of these causes have been tested by researchers.<\/span><\/p>\n
For example, it has been theorized that attachment begins in childhood, and the following factors can be causes of insecure attachment:<\/span><\/p>\n
1. Abuse and Neglect<\/b><\/h3>\n
\"Sad<\/p>\n
According to a review of various <\/span>studies<\/span><\/a>, being abused or neglected as a child is linked to developing an insecure attachment.<\/span><\/p>\n
In fact, adults who suffered from child abuse or neglect are 3.76 times more likely to struggle with insecure romantic attachments.<\/span><\/p>\n
Also Try: <\/i><\/b>Childhood Emotional Neglect Test<\/span><\/i><\/a><\/pre>\n
2. Trauma and Loss<\/b><\/h3>\n
Experts<\/span><\/a> have also reported that unresolved loss and trauma can lead to insecure attachment styles in adults in addition to <\/span>child abuse<\/span><\/a> and neglect.<\/span><\/p>\n
Losing a parent, being separated from parents, or exposure to <\/span>traumatic events<\/span><\/a> such as war, gang violence, or domestic violence can therefore lead to an insecure attachment style. Physical and <\/span>sexual abuse<\/span><\/a> are also forms of trauma.<\/span><\/p>\n
There can be several explanations for what causes insecurity in relationships, but it mostly comes down to experiences in past relationships, primarily those with a parent or primary caretaker.<\/span><\/p>\n
A secure attachment develops if caregivers were warm, nurturing, and consistently available and responsive to a child’s needs. Insecure attachments develop when this type of care is lacking, whether because of abuse, violence, neglect, or <\/span>emotional absence<\/span><\/a>.<\/span><\/p>\n
Related Reading: <\/i><\/b>How Childhood Trauma Affects Relationships?<\/span><\/i><\/a><\/pre>\n
3. Lack of responsive parenting<\/b><\/h3>\n
Children whose parents or primary caregivers were not consistently responsive or supportive can cause their children to develop insecure attachments, eventually leading to attachment issues in adulthood.<\/span><\/p>\n
For example, if a parent is physically absent from a child’s life or emotionally unavailable, the child may develop insecure attachment patterns. A parent who struggles with mental illness or addiction may be minimally responsive and increase the risk of insecure attachment in children.<\/span><\/p>\n
Similarly, if a parent sometimes responds to a child’s needs or tends to the child during times of distress, but other times does not, the child may be unsure if their needs will be met, leading to insecure attachment.<\/span><\/p>\n
Also Try: <\/i><\/b>Attachment Style Quiz\r\n<\/span><\/i><\/a><\/pre>\n