Insecure Attachment

Insecure attachment is a term used to describe an attachment pattern characterized by the experience of negative emotions like fear, anxiety, and shame when approaching close relationships with others. This type of attachment often develops during early childhood due to the experience of neglect, abuse, lack of support and encouragement, or unresponsiveness from the primary caregiver.

According to the attachment theory introduced by John Bowlby, there are 4 types of attachment styles, 3 of which correspond to insecure attachment: anxious-ambivalent, avoidant and disorganized attachment styles. During adulthood, the manifestations of insecure attachment can vary according to the type of attachment wounds that are being activated, ranging from fearing intimacy, to craving closeness. However, the common ground between the different types of insecure attachment is the marked difficulty in feeling safe and establishing healthy relationships, especially, but not exclusively, with romantic partners.