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Related Concept Videos

Theory of Romantic Attachment in Adulthood03:34

Theory of Romantic Attachment in Adulthood

Attachment is a long-standing connection or bond with others. While Attachment Theory was conceived in developmental psychology to describe infant-caregiver bonding, it's been extended into adulthood to include romantic relationships.
Hazan and Shaver's Attachment Styles01:28

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Attachment theory, developed initially to explain infant–caregiver bonds, has been extended to illuminate patterns of intimacy in adult romantic relationships. Psychologists Cindy Hazan and Phillip Shaver proposed that the attachment styles observed in infancy form a framework for how individuals approach emotional closeness and conflict in adulthood. These attachment styles—secure, avoidant, and anxious—are linked to enduring patterns of behavior and emotional regulation in adult relationships.
Attachment Styles01:24

Attachment Styles

Jeffrey Simpson's attachment theory suggests that early caregiver relationships shape lasting patterns of behavior and emotional regulation, known as attachment styles. These patterns are organized along two key dimensions: self-esteem and interpersonal trust. The intersection of these dimensions produces four primary attachment styles that typically persist throughout life and significantly influence how individuals form and maintain relationships.Secure Attachment StyleIndividuals with a...
Attachment01:20

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Attachment is vital for infant development, as warm social interactions support growth and well-being. In a classic 1958 study by Harry Harlow, the significance of warmth and comfort in forming attachments was examined. Harlow separated newborn monkeys from their mothers and provided two artificial "mothers": one made of cold wire and the other covered in soft cloth. Despite the wire mother offering food, the infant monkeys preferred the comfort of the cloth mother, demonstrating that physical...
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The similarity hypothesis suggests that individuals are more likely to form relationships with others who share similar attitudes, beliefs, values, and interests. This concept has been widely studied in social psychology, demonstrating that perceived similarity fosters interpersonal attraction. In an experiment supporting this hypothesis, participants were presented with fabricated information indicating that strangers held attitudes similar to their own. The results showed that participants...

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Sex differences in romantic attachment: a meta-analysis.

Marco Del Giudice1

  • 1University of Turin, Torino, Italy. marco.delgiudice@unito.it

Personality & Social Psychology Bulletin
|January 18, 2011
PubMed
Summary

Men exhibit greater avoidance and less anxiety in romantic relationships than women. These sex differences in adult attachment vary by sample type, region, and age, with implications for evolutionary psychology.

Area of Science:

  • Psychology
  • Evolutionary Psychology
  • Social Psychology

Background:

  • Adult romantic attachment is conceptualized along two dimensions: anxiety and avoidance.
  • Previous research has yielded mixed findings regarding sex differences in these attachment dimensions.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To conduct the first meta-analysis on sex differences in adult romantic attachment anxiety and avoidance.
  • To examine factors influencing these sex differences, including sample type, geographic region, and age.

Main Methods:

  • Meta-analysis of 113 samples (N = 66,132) from 100 studies.
  • Utilized data from two-dimensional romantic attachment questionnaires (e.g., Experiences in Close Relationships).
  • Analyzed sex differences using bivariate effect sizes (D) and explored heterogeneity.

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Main Results:

  • Overall, males reported higher avoidance and lower anxiety than females.
  • Sex differences were larger in community samples compared to college or web-based samples.
  • Geographic region and age influenced the magnitude of sex differences in attachment.

Conclusions:

  • Men generally exhibit higher attachment avoidance and lower attachment anxiety than women.
  • The study highlights the importance of considering sample characteristics and demographics when examining sex differences in adult romantic attachment.
  • Findings offer insights into evolutionary models of romantic attachment and potential underestimation of sex differences.