BEHAVIORAL AND EXPERIENTIAL PATTERNS OF AVOIDANTLY AND SECURELY ATTACHED WOMEN ACROSS ADULTHOOD - A 31-YEAR LONGITUDINAL PERSPECTIVE

Attachment patterns of women avoidantly or securely attached at age 52 were studied using a 31-year longitudinal design and multiple perspec tives, including life outcomes, observer descriptions of behavioral an d personality characteristics, and self-reports of working models coll ected at ages 21, 27, 43, and 52. Findings from these diverse data sou rces provide evidence for the continuity of the behavioral and experie ntial patterns associated with attachment styles across adulthood. Avo idant compared with secure participants (a) experienced diverging rela tionship trajectories that were less happy and less steady, (b) showed a consistent pattern of behavioral and personality characteristics, i ncluding interpersonal distance, defensiveness, and vulnerability, as assessed by observers, (c) reported distinct and longitudinal consiste nt internal working models characterized by distrustful self-reliance and interpersonal and emotional distance, and (d) had childhood enviro nments that afforded fewer opportunities for developing close interper sonal ties.