Attachment Avoidance In Relationships

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Attachment avoidance tends to leads to poorer relationship quality, as these relationships are often detached and lack intimacy. This can be shown in research on married couples, which revealed that avoidant attachment was significantly negatively correlated with marital satisfaction (Chung, 2014). It is proposed that those with high levels of avoidant attachment expect others to mimic the behavior of their original attachment figures and it is their assumption that others will likely be uncaring and rejecting (Burnette et al., 2009). They respond to relationships and potential threat by seeking distance from their partners. They may choose to downplay the value of the relationship or put down the other person in order to detach from the problem and the …show more content…
To assure their personal goals are met they engage in distancing behaviors. By distancing themselves from the relationship, they themselves create an environment of low support and intimacy. While they may blame it on expectations that their partner is being dismissive, self-fulfilling prophecy would suggest that it is their own avoidant actions that harm their relationships. Their indifference and devaluing of the relationship can quickly make friend feel unappreciated or unwanted; this can lead to the friend returning the indifferent and rejecting attitudes. This would overall lead to poorer relationship quality. Avoidantly attached individuals also fail to engage in relationship promoting behaviors. The ability to forgive and reconcile post conflict in relationships is vital for lasting healthy relationship, but has been shown to be difficult for individuals with avoidant attachment (Burnette et al., 2009). This may be a manifestation of their indifference to their relationships, as well has the negative working model of others which makes them see others as unworthy of