Attachment Style Quiz
The attachment style quiz (based on the ECR-R, Experiences in Close Relationships – Revised) is a self-report questionnaire that maps how you relate in close relationships onto two dimensions, Attachment Anxiety and Attachment Avoidance, and the four adult attachment styles of Bartholomew and Horowitz: Secure, Preoccupied, Dismissing-Avoidant and Fearful-Avoidant.
For professional reference, research, and education only. Not for diagnosis or medical advice.
The attachment style quiz is a self-report questionnaire that maps how a person relates in close relationships onto two dimensions, Attachment Anxiety and Attachment Avoidance. It draws on the dimensional framework of the Experiences in Close Relationships – Revised (ECR-R) [2] and the four-category model of adult attachment [1].
What is attachment style?
Attachment style refers to the characteristic pattern of thoughts, feelings, and behaviours you bring to close relationships, rooted in early experiences with caregivers. Developed by John Bowlby (1969) and extended by Mary Ainsworth and colleagues (1978), attachment theory proposes that early bonding experiences create an internal working model that shapes how you relate to others throughout your life.
Adult attachment styles are typically described along two underlying dimensions: Attachment Anxiety (fear of abandonment, worry about relationship stability) and Attachment Avoidance (discomfort with closeness, preference for self-reliance). The combination of these dimensions produces four attachment styles [1]: Secure, Preoccupied, Dismissing-Avoidant, and Fearful-Avoidant (Disorganized).
Attachment styles are not fixed destiny. Earned security, developing a more secure attachment style through positive adult relationships and therapy, is possible: gains in attachment security during therapy have been linked to better outcomes [3]. Attachment-focused therapies such as Emotionally Focused Therapy (EFT) and Schema Therapy directly address attachment patterns to improve relationship quality and emotional wellbeing.
What does the attachment style quiz measure?
The quiz measures two dimensions of adult attachment in close relationships, following the ECR-R framework [2]:
- Attachment Anxiety: worry about abandonment and a strong need for closeness and reassurance. It corresponds to the model of self.
- Attachment Avoidance: discomfort with intimacy and a preference for emotional self-reliance. It corresponds to the model of others.
It is an educational tool about a dimensional personality construct, not a measure of an attachment disorder.
How do you give the attachment style quiz?
This is a self-report quiz. Rate how much each statement describes you in close relationships on a scale of 1–7. Answer for how you generally feel in close relationships rather than about one recent event.
How do you score and interpret the attachment style quiz?
Responses are summarized as standing on the two dimensions; there are no clinical cutoffs. The four-category model organizes adult attachment into four styles using two underlying dimensions: a person's model of self (positive or negative) and model of others (positive or negative) [1]. Each style reflects a distinct combination of Attachment Anxiety and Attachment Avoidance.
| Style | Anxiety | Avoidance | Self-model | Other-model | Core pattern |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Secure | Low | Low | Positive | Positive | Comfortable with closeness and interdependence; able to depend on others and have others depend on them |
| Preoccupied | High | Low | Negative | Positive | Strongly desires closeness but fears rejection; may seem "clingy" or seek excessive reassurance |
| Dismissing-Avoidant | Low | High | Positive | Negative | Values independence highly; minimizes the importance of relationships; may appear emotionally distant |
| Fearful-Avoidant | High | High | Negative | Negative | Wants closeness but fears being hurt; often described as having a disorganized or ambivalent relational pattern |
Psychometric properties
This quiz is an educational tool based on the ECR-R framework and has not been separately validated; the figures below describe the published scales it draws on.
- ECR-R test-retest stability. The ECR-R provided highly stable indicators of attachment over a 3-week period (85% shared variance), and explained 30% to 40% of between-person variation in diary ratings of attachment-related emotions during interactions with a romantic partner [2].
- ECR short form. A 12-item short form showed a good-fitting two-factor structure (Anxiety and Avoidance), test-retest reliability was examined over 1 month, and validity was equivalent to the original ECR across studies [4].
- Four-category model. The original study validated the four styles against self-report measures of self-concept and interpersonal functioning; each style was associated with a distinct profile of interpersonal problems by both self- and friend-report [1].
Limitations
- Not a diagnosis. Attachment style is a dimensional personality construct, not a disorder; clinically significant relationship difficulties need assessment by a registered mental health professional.
- Not the ECR-R itself. Results are an educational approximation, not a validated ECR-R score.
- Categories simplify dimensions. Four styles are a convenient summary of two continuous dimensions; people near the middle of a dimension may not fit one style cleanly.
- Self-report. Answers can be shaped by current relationship circumstances and mood.
How does attachment style affect therapy?
Attachment style has well-established relevance to how therapy unfolds. Two meta-analyses have looked at it:
- 14 studies (n = 1,467): attachment security was associated with better therapy outcomes (d = 0.37) and attachment anxiety with poorer outcomes (d = −0.46); avoidance was uncorrelated with outcome [5].
- 36 studies (n = 3,158): secure attachment before treatment again predicted better outcomes, and preliminary analyses suggested that clients with low pretreatment security may do better in therapy that focuses on interpersonal relationships and close attachment patterns [3].
The therapeutic relationship itself mirrors attachment dynamics:
- Preoccupied clients may form intense alliances quickly but show heightened distress around ruptures.
- Dismissing-avoidant clients may present as highly self-sufficient and downplay distress, which can mask therapeutic need.
- Fearful-avoidant clients often show the most variable alliance quality.
Clinicians working with insecurely attached clients frequently integrate attachment-informed approaches — such as Emotionally Focused Therapy (EFT) for couples or Attachment-Based Family Therapy (ABFT) for adolescents — that explicitly target the internal working model.
In a randomized trial of behavioural couple therapy with 134 couples, improvement in relationship satisfaction appeared to drive subsequent changes in attachment security, rather than the reverse [6]. This suggests that in at least some therapies, changes in attachment style may be a byproduct of improved relationship functioning rather than a prerequisite for it — a clinically important nuance for setting expectations with clients.
How else is adult attachment measured?
Several self-report and interview-based tools assess adult attachment. The table below summarizes the most widely used tools and their key features.
| Tool | Format | Items | What it yields | Source |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| ECR-R (Experiences in Close Relationships — Revised) | Self-report, 7-point Likert | 36 | Continuous scores on Anxiety and Avoidance dimensions; high test-retest reliability (~85% shared variance over 3 weeks) | [2] |
| ECR-SF (ECR Short Form) | Self-report, 7-point Likert | 12 | Anxiety and Avoidance subscales; validity equivalent to full ECR across samples | [4] |
| RQ (Relationship Questionnaire) | Self-report, single forced-choice + continuous ratings | 4 prototypes | Categorical four-style classification (Secure, Preoccupied, Fearful, Dismissing); simpler but less precise than dimensional measures | [1] |
| AAI (Adult Attachment Interview) | Clinician-administered semi-structured interview | ~20 questions | Coded narrative classifications (Secure-Autonomous, Dismissing, Preoccupied, Unresolved); requires specialist training; considered the criterion standard for attachment assessment in research | Unpublished interview protocol |
The ECR-R and its short form are the most commonly used measures in clinical outcome research and large-sample studies. The RQ offers a brief categorical snapshot useful in clinical conversation. The AAI is reserved for research and specialist clinical contexts because of the training and coding time it requires.
Related self-report measures include the DERS for emotion regulation and the BPD test when relationship instability is part of a wider pattern.
For individuals: This page is a clinical reference, not a diagnostic tool. If you have concerns about your own symptoms, bring this information to a qualified mental health professional.
Related
Billing
In the US, the Attachment Style Quiz is usually billed under these CPT codes. Payer rules vary.
Assessments
- Borderline Personality Scale - BPD Severity & Dimensional Assessment
- BPD Test: 9 DSM-5-TR Borderline Personality Disorder Criteria + Scoring
- CAQ Score Interpretation
- Bipolar Test (MDQ)
- MDQ: Mood Disorder Questionnaire
- Young Mania Rating Scale (YMRS): Scoring and Cutoffs
Dot size shows how strongly each scale's condition is linked to this one in HiBoop's co-occurrence map.
FAQ
Does this quiz diagnose an attachment disorder?
No. This quiz is an educational tool based on attachment style research — it is not a clinical diagnosis. Attachment style is a dimensional personality construct, not a disorder. A registered mental health professional is needed to assess clinically significant relationship difficulties.
What is the difference between Attachment Anxiety and Attachment Avoidance?
Attachment Anxiety reflects worry about abandonment and a strong need for closeness and reassurance. Attachment Avoidance reflects discomfort with intimacy and a preference for emotional self-reliance. All four attachment styles are defined by a combination of low or high standing on each dimension.
Can attachment style change over time?
Yes. Research supports the concept of 'earned security' — people can develop more secure patterns through positive adult relationships and therapy. A 2018 meta-analysis found that clients who showed gains in attachment security during treatment also tended to show better therapy outcomes.
Is this quiz self-report or clinician-administered?
This is a self-report quiz based on the ECR-R framework. The ECR-R itself is also self-report and yields continuous scores on Anxiety and Avoidance dimensions. Clinician-administered measures such as the Adult Attachment Interview (AAI) exist but are used in specialist research and clinical settings.
References
- 1.Bartholomew K, Horowitz LM. Attachment styles among young adults: a test of a four-category model. J Pers Soc Psychol. 1991;61(2):226-44.
- 2.Sibley CG, Fischer R, Liu JH. Reliability and validity of the revised experiences in close relationships (ECR-R) self-report measure of adult romantic attachment. Pers Soc Psychol Bull. 2005;31(11):1524-36.
- 3.Levy KN, Kivity Y, Johnson BN, Gooch CV. Adult attachment as a predictor and moderator of psychotherapy outcome: A meta-analysis. J Clin Psychol. 2018;74(11):1996-2013.
- 4.Wei M, Russell DW, Mallinckrodt B, Vogel DL. The Experiences in Close Relationship Scale (ECR)-short form: reliability, validity, and factor structure. J Pers Assess. 2007;88(2):187-204.
- 5.Levy KN, Ellison WD, Scott LN, Bernecker SL. Attachment style. J Clin Psychol. 2011;67(2):193-203.
- 6.Benson LA, Sevier M, Christensen A. The impact of behavioral couple therapy on attachment in distressed couples. J Marital Fam Ther. 2013;39(4):407-20.
HiBoop does not offer this scale. This page is reference material.This library is an academic and clinical reference. A scale described here is not necessarily offered in HiBoop; each page says whether it is.