Attachment Theory: Your Earliest Relationships Shape All Future Ones

Psychologist John Bowlby and researcher Mary Ainsworth established attachment theory: the emotional bond formed with caregivers in infancy creates an 'internal working model' that influences all future relationships. They identified four attachment styles — secure, anxious, avoidant, and disorganized. Research shows that a person's attachment style in childhood predicts relationship patterns in adulthood, conflict resolution style, and even parenting behavior with their own children.

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https://www.simplypsychology.org/attachment.html

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Published: April 8, 2026
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Psychology Science & Health Education

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