Therapists outline the four different attachment styles—secure, anxious, avoidant, and fearful-avoidant—plus how to identify yours, cope, and change it.

Attachment styles were first defined by Mary Ainsworth, a Canadian-American psychologist who developed the Strange Situation, a procedure she used in experiments carried out in Baltimore in the 1970s.

We spoke to author Lane Moore about how attachment theory plays into friendship. What are the primary attachment styles? There are three primary attachment styles: Secure, anxious, and avoidant.

Later in life, it may manifest as the perception of being ‘too emotional and not rational enough to, for example, make good ...

But when your partner has a secure attachment style, they remain open and vulnerable and recognize how you feel.

Building a secure attachment style is a lifelong process, but with dedication and self-reflection, you can create fulfilling and enriching relationships in your life.

However, it’s less common to hear about secure attachment, which is the healthiest of all the attachment styles. Here’s a deeper dive into the defining factors of a secure attachment style.

Perhaps unsurprisingly, secure people tend to be happier in relationships, Levine said. Psychologists Hazan and Shaver found in their research that about 56% of subjects had a secure attachment style.

A therapist explains the four attachment styles of attachment theory—secure, ambivalent, avoidant, and disorganized—and how they affect adult relationships.

Unhealthy attachment styles can affect friendships. A mental health expert explains how to work towards a healthier attachment style.

By Harmeet Kaur, CNN (CNN) — Do you identify as anxious, avoidant, disorganized or secure? For those who aren’t up on pop psychology vernacular, these terms refer to the four attachment styles ...