Attachment Test (ECR-R)

The Experiences in Close Relationships Revised (ECR-R) questionnaire is one of the most widely used self-report instruments in modern relationship psychology. Developed by researchers R. Chris Fraley, Niels G. Waller, and Kelly A. Brennan in 2000, the ECR-R was designed to refine earlier measures of adult attachment styles using item response theory. Rather than sorting people into rigid, single-label categories, the authors demonstrated that adult attachment is best understood as a continuous two-dimensional space. By measuring how individuals navigate intimacy and vulnerability in romantic partnerships, the instrument offers a subtle and empirically sound picture of human bonding patterns.

The two core dimensions captured by the ECR-R are attachment-related anxiety and attachment-related avoidance. Attachment anxiety reflects the degree to which a person worries about rejection, abandonment, or whether a romantic partner truly cares for them as much as they care for the partner. Individuals scoring high on this dimension often seek intense reassurance, feel heightened vigilance toward signs of distance, and fear being disliked once a partner gets to know them. Attachment avoidance, by contrast, reflects discomfort with emotional closeness, dependency, and vulnerability. Those scoring high in avoidance tend to prefer self-reliance, keep partners at a distance, and feel uneasy opening up or relying on others when facing life difficulties.

Decades of empirical research with the ECR-R show that where a person falls on these two spectrums profoundly influences how they navigate romantic life. Someone low in both anxiety and avoidance exhibits a secure attachment pattern, characterized by trust, comfortable emotional intimacy, and effective conflict resolution. Higher anxiety combined with low avoidance often maps onto an anxious-preoccupied style, where hyper-activation of attachment worries leads to intense relationship distress. High avoidance with low anxiety reflects a dismissive-avoidant pattern, where emotional distance is maintained as a protective strategy. Finally, high scores on both dimensions correspond to a fearful-avoidant orientation, marked by a deep desire for connection paired with a protective fear of getting hurt.

To give your scores a helpful point of reference, the chart places your result beside an estimated comparison marker for each dimension. These markers are approximate: in published community and student samples using the ECR-R, average scores typically sit near the middle range of each scale, with attachment anxiety often averaging slightly higher than attachment avoidance. Those figures are informed estimates rescaled from the general patterns seen in published attachment literature, not validated population percentiles or clinical norms for this specific web test. Treat them as a rough contextual backdrop that helps you interpret your profile, rather than as a precise benchmark or diagnostic cutoff.

This test is provided for educational and entertainment purposes only. It is not a diagnostic instrument, does not constitute psychological or relationship advice, and is not a substitute for formal clinical assessment. Attachment patterns are not fixed verdicts on your character; they reflect learned relational tendencies that can shift over time through self-awareness, life experience, and healthy relationships. This assessment is based on the ECR-R, and is not affiliated with R. Chris Fraley, Niels G. Waller, Kelly A. Brennan, or their academic institutions. If you are experiencing distress in your personal relationships, consider speaking with a qualified mental health professional or relationship counselor.

References

• Fraley, R. C., Waller, N. G., & Brennan, K. A. (2000). An item response theory analysis of self-report measures of adult attachment. Journal of Personality and Social Psychology, 78(2), 350-365.