Season Two, Episode Two: How the Past Affects Our Present Relationships

Part One: Attachment Theory

In honor of February and Valentine’s Day, we begin a two-part exploration into how our past affects the quality of our relationships. In Part One, we begin by discussing attachment theory. Since its introduction in the 1950s and its refinement over the years, attachment theory has become the dominant view of how our early childhood experiences come to influence the types of relationships we have as adults. We will explore the background and experimental basis of attachment theory and discuss in detail the four attachment styles that flow from the experimental work of Dr. John Bowlby and others.

We will look at how the early experiences that form our attachment style come into play in our adult relationships, especially in our primary, romantic relationships. We will also discuss the relevance and limitations of attachment theory as a pathway to improve our relationships.

Our early childhood experiences with our caregivers often condition us to seek out and repeat certain kinds of experiences in our adult relationships. We can gain understanding of these styles in order to make positive changes that will bring us greater joy, intimacy, and connection with our partners.