What are 'attachment styles,' and is there science to back them up?

On average, there is an association between people's early childhood experiences and their adult attachment styles, Fraley said. People who experience early life abuse, neglect, or otherwise cold or unpredictable caregiving are more likely to struggle with attachment in adult relationships. However, he said, childhood experiences don't cement your fate — there are many people who encounter bad experiences early in life but have secure adult relationships, and vice versa.