Adult Attachment and Equity in Relationships

Does one’s attachment style affect one’s experience of equity in intimate relationships? One study suggests that partners with secure attachment styles view their relationships as more equitable than partners with anxious attachment styles (Grau & Doll, 2003). Specifically, anxiously attached adults view themselves to be in the “disadvantaged” (i.e., receiving less from the partner than they give) position in the relationship. Further, although partners who are avoidant see their relationships as equitable, there is less emotional disclosure in their relationship than there is in the relationships of secure partners. For Paper Assignment #3, research adult attachment and relations and answer the following questions:

• In adults, what are the similarities and differences in secure, anxious, and avoidant attachment styles?
• Does one’s attachment style affect one’s experience of equity in intimate relationships?
• Is it better have a similar attachment style as your partner?

Provided Source:

Grau, I., & Doll, J. (2003). Effects of attachment styles on the experience of equity in heterosexual couples’ relationships. Experimental Psychology, 50(4), 298–310.