How Your Childhood Affects Your Love Styles where Childhood experiences shape our worldview and affect the way we interact with others later in life. This is especially true when it comes to romantic relationships. How we relate to our parents, siblings, and other early caretakers can influence our adult love styles in a number of ways.
Understanding how your childhood affects
Understanding how your childhood affects your love styles can help you take an honest look at your current relationship and make necessary changes to improve it. It can also help you avoid repeating negative patterns in future relationships.
There are four main love styles that are influenced by childhood experiences:
Secure
Those with a secure love style experienced a supportive and consistent caregiving environment growing up. This has resulted in a positive view of themselves and others, and the ability to form healthy, lasting relationships.
Anxious
Anxious love styles are often the result of inconsistent or absent caregivers. This can lead to low self-esteem, trust issues, and an inability to form close, intimate relationships.
Avoidant
Avoidant love styles are usually the result of caregiver rejection or indifference. This can cause someone to develop a deep fear of intimacy and a need for independence in relationships.
Fearful-Avoidant
Fearful-avoidant love styles are a combination of anxious and avoidant love styles. This is the result of caregiver inconsistency, where there were periods of closeness followed by periods of distance. This can lead to ambivalence about relationships and a deep fear of both intimacy and isolation.
No matter what your love style is, it’s important to be aware of how your childhood experiences have shaped it. This can help you understand why you act certain ways in relationships and what you need to do to change negative patterns.
If you’re not sure what your love style is, consider taking this quiz.
Once you know your love style, you can start to make positive changes in your current relationship. If you’re single, you can use this knowledge to attract a more compatible partner.
Here are four tips for improving your current relationship, based on your love style:
If you have a secure love style. Don’t try to change your partner too much. Instead, focus on continuing to build the trust, communication, and intimacy you already have.
If you have an anxious love style
Work on building trust and communication with your partner. Try to be more patient and understanding, and give your partner time and space when they need it.
If you have an avoidant love style
Don’t be afraid to open up to your partner. Work on building trust and communication, and be more willingness to compromise.
If you have a fearful-avoidant love style
Seek professional help to overcome your fears and work on building a more healthy relationship.