Dismissive avoidant attachment often gets a bad rap and, sometimes, that can be justified based on “bad” behavior in relationships. That said, dismissive avoidant people are also widely misunderstood.

Avoidant attachment makes closeness feel threatening. As intimacy deepens, withdrawal replaces presence—leaving partners lonely, overfunctioning, and longing for connection.

Navigating the complexities of romantic relationships can often feel like trying to decode a foreign language. What makes it even more confusing is that there are a lot of lay people and coaches ...

If you prefer actions like gifts or acts of service over quality time or words of affirmation, chances are you have an avoidant attachment style. Attachment theory is the blueprint of how we love, ...

Fearful avoidant attachment sits in a painful middle ground. You crave closeness, intimacy, and emotional safety, but the moment it feels real, your body panics. Your mind scans for danger, and your ...

Forbes contributors publish independent expert analyses and insights. I write about relationships, personality, and everyday psychology. Some couples can’t get enough — or too much — of each other.

WHILE TODAY IS ALL ABOUT LOVE AND CONNECTION, IT’S ALSO THE PERFECT TIME TO REFLECT ON HOW WE RELATE TO THE ONES THAT WE CARE ABOUT. WE’RE JOINED TODAY BY RELATIONSHIP EXPERT. CHARLOTTE MCCULLOUGH.

After my podcast episode on avoidant wives, many men reached out for therapy or further questions. I have been talking about and working with avoidant women and avoidant men for the entirety of my ...