Intimate Relationships Exam 3 Practice 2026 – The Comprehensive All-in-One Guide for Success

Independence and avoidance of closeness point to a pattern where a person keeps relationships at a distance and relies on themselves rather than others. In adult attachment theory, this is the dismissive-avoidant style, marked by low relationship anxiety and high avoidance. People with this style often appear self-sufficient, emotionally distant, and may downplay the importance of intimate ties, prioritizing autonomy over closeness. They tend to minimize vulnerability and keep boundaries firm, which can make closeness feel uncomfortable or risky.

This contrasts with anxious-preoccupied individuals, who seek closeness and fear abandonment; secure individuals, who are comfortable with both intimacy and independence; and fearful-avoidant individuals, who want closeness but fear getting hurt and thus oscillate between approach and avoidance. So the description best fits the dismissive-avoidant attachment style.