Summary of Attached: The New Science of Adult Attachment and How It Can Help You Find--and Keep--Love

In Attached, psychiatrist and neuroscientist Dr. Amir Levine and psychologist Rachel Heller use science to explore one of the most important aspects of our lives—our relationships. Just as we rely on science to guide our choices about nutrition, exercise, and sleep, Levine and Heller show us how understanding attachment theory can help us improve our connections with others.

Based on the groundbreaking work of psychologist John Bowlby, attachment theory explains that people behave in one of three distinct ways in relationships:

Anxious individuals are often preoccupied with their relationships and worry about their partner’s ability to love them back.

Avoidant individuals equate intimacy with a loss of independence and tend to minimize closeness.

Secure individuals are comfortable with intimacy and typically exhibit warmth and love in relationships.

Attached helps readers identify their own attachment style, as well as the style of their partners (or potential partners). By understanding these styles, readers can build stronger, more fulfilling relationships with the people they love, gaining a deeper insight into why they behave the way they do in relationships and how to foster healthier, more connected bonds.