Avoidant attachment style

The avoidant attachment style is characterized by individuals who typically avoid or ignore their caregivers and express little emotion when the caregiver leaves or returns. This behavior is evident in childhood, where such children tend to show minimal emotional response and might avoid caregivers altogether. Physiological measures, like heart rate, often show less dramatic changes in these children compared to securely attached children 1.

Avoidant attachment styles can also impact adult relationships. They often find it challenging to engage in intimacy and may have higher chances of infidelity due to difficulties in forming close emotional bonds 2. Additionally, individuals with an avoidant attachment typically rely on auto-regulation rather than seeking emotional support from others, which can make them less comfortable with closeness or dependency on others 3.

Overall, the avoidant attachment style leads to a tendency towards self-reliance and a certain discomfort with emotional closeness, impacting both early caregiving relationships and later adult interactions.