Secure attachment is the bonding style in which a person can trust that their attachment figures will be available when needed. It translates into adults who feel comfortable with intimacy, can depend on others without anxiety, and tolerate separation without panic. It does not eliminate conflict in relationships, but provides resources to navigate it.
Concept origin
Bowlby (1969) formulated attachment theory. Ainsworth (1978) identified secure attachment in children with the "Strange Situation" experiment. Main and Goldwyn (1984) extended the classification to adults with the Adult Attachment Interview (AAI), showing that childhood attachment style predicts relational patterns decades later.
Therapeutic approach
Attachment-oriented psychotherapy (AEDP, EFT) creates a therapeutic relationship that acts as a secure base from which to explore past and present relational experiences. Johnson's EFT couple interventions work the demand-withdrawal cycle, reframing it as attachment signals rather than attacks.
Related concepts
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