ABSTRACT
The conceptualization of romantic love as an attachment process has had a huge impact on the study of adult love relationships, and research in the area has evolved rapidly. Early studies focused on establishing the correlates of individuals’ attachment styles, usually using self-report questionnaires and student samples; in contrast, recent studies have explored the processes and outcomes of couple interaction. This chapter highlights the importance of studying adult romantic attachment at the dyadic level. The specific aim, drawing on the principles of systems theory, is to show that an individual’s attachment orientation can be played out quite differently, depending on the characteristics of the partner.
