Just as there are many different types of romantic relationships, there are many different breakup styles. Therapists tend to agree, concluding that our approach to breakups is intricately linked to our attachment style.

Attachment style has become a buzzword in recent years, but psychologists believe that attachment theory, or the psychological and evolutionary framework by which we make emotional bonds with each other, is a crucial part of how we react to a whole host of situations in our lives. Developed in the late 1960s, attachment theory explores how the bonds we have with our parents and caregivers in childhood affect our relationships in adult life. “We may have different attachment styles depending on these early childhood experiences,” explains MBACP-accredited counsellor Georgina Sturmer. “Our attachment style can have an impact on how we feel about relationships and endings, and how we approach breakups.”

How does our attachment style impact breakups?

There are four different attachment styles according to psychological theory, and while they are chiefly used to explain our actions while we are in relationships, they can also help explain our emotional and behavioural responses during a breakup.

Are you a ‘closure-seeker’ or an ‘on-and-off’ type? Here’s how to recognise your breakup style