This tool is a self-reflection instrument based on the Experiences in Close Relationships (ECR) scale, developed by Brennan, Clark, and Shaver in 1998 and one of the most widely used measures of adult attachment in the research literature. It measures two orthogonal dimensions: attachment anxiety — how much you worry about partner availability, abandonment, or rejection — and attachment avoidance — how uncomfortable you are with emotional closeness and dependency on others.
The results place you on a two-dimensional grid corresponding to the four adult attachment patterns described by Bartholomew and Horowitz (1991): Secure (low anxiety, low avoidance), Anxious/Preoccupied (high anxiety, low avoidance), Dismissive-Avoidant (low anxiety, high avoidance), and Fearful-Avoidant (high anxiety, high avoidance). These are descriptive patterns, not fixed psychological types — attachment orientations can and do shift over time and across relationships.
This is not a clinical diagnosis. It is a self-reflection instrument designed to introduce you to the attachment framework and prompt reflection on your relational patterns. For clinical evaluation or therapeutic support, consult a licensed psychologist or psychotherapist.
Educational tool only. This is a self-reflection instrument loosely based on the Experiences in Close Relationships scale (Brennan, Clark & Shaver, 1998). It is not a validated clinical assessment and does not constitute psychological diagnosis or professional advice. For clinical evaluation, consult a licensed psychologist.
Scores range 1–7 per dimension. These reflect patterns, not fixed categories — attachment is dimensional, not typological. Source: Brennan KA, Clark CL, Shaver PR. In: Simpson JA, Rholes WS, eds. Attachment Theory and Close Relationships. Guilford; 1998.