Attachment is a term for the intense emotional tie that develops between two individuals, such as the tie between an infant and a parent or between adult lovers (Rholes et al., 2006). It is possible to experience attachment without love, but it is unlikely that love of one person for another can exist in the absence of attachment. Although love itself is difficult to measure and study, researchers have had considerable success in investigating various aspects of attachment, including how it forms, effects of attachment deprivation, and styles of attachment. The last of these dimensions, styles of attachment, is of particular interest to social scientists. In the following pages, we examine key research findings pertaining to attachment and human relationships.
Love and Commnunication in Intimate Relationships