Identifying Disorganized Attachment Style

Attachment style theorizes that how we navigate our adult relationships is based on the way that we bonded with our primary caregiver as children. The four recognized attachment styles are secure, avoidant, anxious, and disorganized. If children grow up in an environment of consistency where their parent or parents fulfill their emotional needs, they tend to develop a secure attachment style. The rest of us fall into one, or more than one of the other three.

What is Disorganized Attachment?

Disorganized attachment style (fearful-avoidant attachment) develops when caregivers become a source of fear for the child. As adults, these people are very inconsistent in their relationships and have a great deal of trouble trusting others. This attachment style generally indicates that some form of physical, sexual, or emotional abuse occurred during the early childhood development stage.

People with disorganized attachment styles demonstrate traits consistent with both avoidant and anxious attachment styles but not in any consistent or coherent way. Their social behavior tends to be unpredictable and difficult to accept for their partners.

These people want to love and be loved but have a great fear that the people close to them will hurt them. Their caregivers were unpredictable, so they’ve conditioned…