Adult attachment styles are derived from the work of John Bowlby, Mary Ainsworth, and other researchers throughout the 1960s-90s who identified distinct patterns of emotional responses in babies to their mothers when the latter left and returned to a room. These patterns were categorized into infant attachment styles (secure, insecure-avoidant, and insecure-resistant; later, disorganized) that were subsequently developed and refined into adult attachment styles.

Today, adult attachment styles are commonly categorized as the following (with synonyms and explanations of behavioral trademarks):

Among the developments in attachment style research, many misconceptions have abounded. A lot can be found on social media. Here are four worth debunking.

While attachment styles were originally assumed to be stable throughout someone's lifespan, formed in early childhood and influencing the behavior and emotions of individuals well into old age, more recent research suggests this isn't the case. A 2019 study found that anxious and avoidant attachment styles tend toward greater security as individuals age—possibly due to stabler........

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