Anxious Attachment

Phenomenon

An attachment style marked by fear of abandonment and need for closeness.

What it means

Anxious attachment is one of the four adult attachment styles. Anxiously-attached people tend to seek closeness, fear being abandoned, and read ambiguous signals as rejection. The pattern often comes from inconsistent early caregiving. In dating, it shows up as overthinking response times, needing reassurance, and pursuing distance-takers more strongly.

Related terms

Attachment StyleA psychological framework categorizing how people relate in close relationships.
Avoidant AttachmentAn attachment style marked by discomfort with closeness and emotional independence.

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