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Secure attachment

Secure attachment is one of the three attachment styles measured using the Strange situation task developed by Mary Ainsworth. In the original task, securely attached infants were distressed when their mother left the room, but displayed happy behaviors when she returned. One longitudinal study conducted over a 20-year period suggests that these attachment styles may persist throughout adulthood and identified 72% of participants who were categorized using the same attachment style as they were given in infancy. Given the idea that many individuals maintain the same attachment style through adulthood, social psychologists can use this information to gather information about the types of characteristics of romantic relationships that relate to a specific attachment style.

Social psychology research supports the idea that variance in attachment styles correlates with different behaviors in romantic relationships. When asked to think about their romantic experiences, individuals identified as securely attached reported that their previous romantic experiences were happy, trusting, and friendly. These same participants had higher opinions of themselves compared to other attachment styles, but saw the same positive qualities reflected in potential romantic partners. The more likely an individual is secure within themselves, the more likely there are to be secure in their romantic relationships as well. This idea is reflected in research which discovered that people who were more open to closeness to others (i.e. more securely attached) had greater feelings of self-worth. These findings suggest that love is not only a social process, but that biological processes play a role in formation of romantic relationships.

Additional research has been conducted with couples currently in romantic relationships. In a study of 144 dating couples, securely attached individuals were much more likely to be dating someone who experienced a greater amount of positive emotions and were likewise more secure. In general, these securely attached individuals experienced increased levels of positive emotions and decreased levels of negative emotions in their romantic relationships.

Securely attached individuals may also express their love in different ways compared to others. In one research study which examined the relationship between attachment styles and several different scales of love, the secure attachment style correlated positively to the Eros style of love, also known as romantic or "passionate" love. Yet another similar study found that more securely attached individuals were more likely to be categorized as having friendship-based (Storge), logical (Pragma), or game-playing love. Additionally, these individuals displayed more prevalence of selfless love, or Agape. Secure attachment was also positively related to intimacy and commitment on Sternberg's triangular theory of love. The study also looked at correlations to the Relationship Rating Form (RRF) developed by Keith Davis and based on Sternberg's theory. A positive correlation was identified between secure individuals and viability, caring, satisfaction, and intimacy, as well as a negative relationship to conflict

The same characteristics appear in longer and more permanent relationships. In a study of married couples, pairs in which both members of the relationship were securely attached were less likely to be depressed compared to other couples in the sample. These so-called "dual-secure" couples reported close attachments to others and more social integration. They also reported increased satisfaction and decreased ambivalence in their marriages compared to couples who were mismatched in attachment styles with their partner.

Attachment style may also play a role in the termination of romantic relationships. One study which interviewed couples in college discovered in a follow-up interview that when these romantic relationships ended, those individuals classified as secure did not report significant levels of distress after the breakup. Secure individuals were also more likely to blame their partner for the breakup and were more willing to see their former partner again, indicating that relationships tended to end more on good terms.