Avoidant Attachment: Why Closeness Feels Threatening
Psychology Today
by Claudia Six Ph.D.February 19, 2026
AI-Generated Deep Dive Summary
Avoidant attachment is a relational pattern where individuals find closeness threatening due to their strong need for autonomy. People with avoidant attachment often pull back when intimacy increases, viewing emotional connection as overwhelming rather than comforting. This tendency can lead to cycles of pursuit and withdrawal in relationships, leaving partners feeling isolated or overfunctioning to maintain the bond.
In such dynamics, avoidants may alternate between seeking closeness and fleeing from it, causing frustration for their
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Originally published on Psychology Today on 2/19/2026