Attachment theory posits that early caregiver bonds shape later romantic behavior. Which statement best describes secure attachment in adulthood?

• A. Individuals often distrust partners and avoid closeness.
• B. Individuals are preoccupied with abandonment and over-prepare for rejection.
• C. Individuals tend to trust partners and communicate openly.
• D. Individuals fear closeness and minimize dependence.

Answer: (C)

Secure attachment in adulthood is best described by trusting partners and communicating openly about thoughts and feelings. People with secure attachment feel comfortable with closeness, seek support when needed, and respond to a partner’s needs with empathy while maintaining healthy boundaries. This pattern comes from consistent, sensitive caregiving early on, which shapes an internal model that others are reliable and one is worthy of care. Insecure patterns—avoidant, anxious-preoccupied, and fearful-avoidant—show traits like distrust of closeness, preoccupation with abandonment, or fear of dependence, which are not present in secure attachment.