Your attachment style involves your behaviors and interactions with others and how you form relationships with them. Attachment theory holds that these styles are largely determined during early childhood. Secure vs. insecure Attachment styles are broadly categorized as being either secure of insecure. If your needs as a child were usually met right away by your caregiver, you probably developed a secure attachment style. As an adult, you most likely feel secure in your close relationships and trust that the other person will be there when you need them. If your caregiver failed to meet your needs as a child — or was slow to do so — you may have an insecure attachment style. As an adult, you might find it hard to form intimate bonds with others. You may also have a hard time trusting those close to you. There are several subtypes of insecure attachment styles in adults. Anxious-preoccupied attachment If you have an anxious-preoccupied attachment style, you might: have an increased need to feel wanted spend a lot of time thinking about your relationships have a tendency to experience jealousy or idolize romantic partners require frequent reassurance from those close to you that they care about you If you’re need for reassurance isn’t met, you might start doubting how your loved ones feel about you. If you’re in a romantic relationship, you might frequently believe that your partner is upset with you and wants to leave. These fears can make you more sensitive to the behaviors of those close to you. You might interpret some of their actions as proof that what you’ve worried about (them leaving) is actually happening. Dismissive-avoidant attachment If your attachment style is dismissive-avoidant, you might: have a hard time depending on partners or other people close to you prefer to be on your own feel like close relationships aren’t worth the trouble worry that forming close bonds with others will make you less independent These behaviors can make it hard for others to support you or feel close to you. Moreover, if someone does put in extra effort to draw you out of your shell, you may react by closing yourself off. Keep in mind that these behaviors don’t stem from not caring about others. Instead, it’s more about protecting yourself and maintaining a sense of self-sufficiency. Fearful-avoidant attachment If you have a fearful-avoidant attachment style, you might: have conflicting feelings about relationships and intimacy want to develop romantic relationships but worry that your partner will hurt you, leave you, or both push aside your feelings and emotions to try to avoid experiencing them fear you aren’t good enough for the kind of relationship you’d like to have While you might be able to suppress your emotions for a period of time, they tend to come out in bursts. This can feel overwhelming and create a pattern of highs and lows in your relationships with others.