The four attachment types at a glance
Attachment research distinguishes four adult styles: secure (about 55–60 %), anxious (around 20 %), dismissive-avoidant (around 25 %) and fearful-avoidant. They describe how a person handles closeness and threat, not how capable of love they are. All four are learned strategies, and therefore changeable.
| Type | Under stress | Core sentence |
|---|---|---|
| Secure | seeks contact and can self-soothe | “We'll sort this out.” |
| Anxious | hyperactivation, more closeness, now | “I have to restore the connection.” |
| Dismissive-avoidant | deactivation, more distance | “I don't need anyone.” |
| Fearful-avoidant | both at once | “Come here, go away.” |
How to read your result
Treat the result as a compass, not a label. Attachment styles are tendencies that shift with partner and life stage, and mixed types are the norm. What matters less is the category and more the question of which strategy runs automatically when you're in alarm.
One note that is the real relief for many people: an avoidant partner pulls even securely attached people into anxious patterns. If you find yourself clinging in this relationship although you never did before, that says something about the dynamic, not about who you are.
Important: This test is for self-assessment and is not a diagnosis. If your situation is seriously affecting you, speak to a licensed therapist. In a crisis in the US: call or text 988. In the UK: Samaritans on 116 123. Emergency: 911 / 999.
Frequently asked questions about the test
Is this attachment style test scientific?
It is based on the four-category model by Bartholomew and Horowitz (1991), but it is not a validated psychometric instrument. It orients you and makes patterns visible, it does not diagnose. Validated measures such as the Experiences in Close Relationships inventory use far more items and are interpreted by professionals.
Can my result change later?
Yes. Attachment styles are learned strategies, not fixed traits. They shift with different partners, life stages and corrective experiences. Research describes exactly this path as earned secure attachment, it takes years rather than weeks, but it is well documented.
What if two results tie?
Then you're a mixed type, which is the normal case. Almost nobody falls cleanly into one category. Read both interpretations, usually one of them fits noticeably better once you think in concrete situations.
Does the test store my answers?
No. The whole evaluation runs in your browser; no data is transmitted or stored. There is no sign-up, no tracking of answers and no email required to see your result.
Keep reading
Foundations
Avoidant attachment style: signs, causes and how to respond
The full overview: definition, prevalence, causes, the two avoidant types and six principles that actually work.
Overview
All guides on avoidant attachment
The full knowledge base on avoidant attachment: guides for partners of avoidants and for people who recognise the pattern in themselves.
Sources and further reading
- Bartholomew, K. & Horowitz, L. M. (1991): Attachment Styles among Young Adults: A Test of a Four-Category Model. Journal of Personality and Social Psychology, 61(2), 226–244. DOI
- Hazan, C. & Shaver, P. (1987): Romantic Love Conceptualized as an Attachment Process. Journal of Personality and Social Psychology, 52(3), 511–524. DOI
- Main, M. & Solomon, J. (1990): Procedures for Identifying Infants as Disorganized/Disoriented during the Ainsworth Strange Situation. Chicago: University of Chicago Press.
- Mikulincer, M. & Shaver, P. R. (2016): Attachment in Adulthood: Structure, Dynamics, and Change. 2nd ed. New York: Guilford Press. Web