The 4 Attachment Styles

Attachment styles come from two dimensions — anxiety and avoidance. Low on both is Secure; the others describe different ways of protecting yourself. Browse the four below, or take the test.

SecureYou’re comfortable with both closeness and independence — you trust easily, communicate openly, and don’t fear abandonment or feel smothered.Anxious–PreoccupiedYou crave closeness and reassurance and are sensitive to any sign of distance; abandonment is a deep fear, and you give a lot in relationships.Dismissive–AvoidantYou value independence and self-reliance, and too much closeness feels uncomfortable; you tend to keep feelings to yourself.Fearful–AvoidantYou want closeness but also fear it — a push–pull between longing for intimacy and protecting yourself from being hurt.