Attached presents a dynamic, science-backed framework for understanding love through the lens of attachment theory. Authors Amir Levine and Rachel Heller guide readers in discovering how attachment styles—secure, anxious, and avoidant—shape our romantic behaviors and relationship patterns .

Dr. Amir Levine is a psychiatrist and neuroscientist, serving as Associate Professor of Clinical Psychiatry at Columbia University and directing the SecureLab. He brings rigorous clinical insight into how neural systems underlie attachment behaviors. Rachel S. F. Heller, M.A., holds a master’s degree from Columbia University in social-organizational psychology and practices as a supervising psychologist. She expertly translates complex research into accessible, actionable guidance.

The narrative begins by explaining attachment theory’s origins—with John Bowlby and Mary Ainsworth linking early caregiving to adult bonding patterns—and then applies this rich foundation to adult romantic relationships . The authors break down the three core styles: secure individuals are warm, trusting, and comfortable with intimacy; anxious types crave closeness but fear rejection; avoidants equate dependency with loss of independence and tend to retreat when relationships deepen .

Levine and Heller introduce a questionnaire allowing readers to identify their primary attachment style, followed by clear, present-tense guidance on how to adapt to different attachment needs within relationships. They explore phenomena such as the anxious–avoidant trap, where fear and longing collide, and they offer strategies for nurturing secure attachment in oneself and one’s partner .

Throughout the book Attached: Are you Anxious, Avoidant or Secure, the tone is supportive and scientifically grounded. Practical exercises, vivid couple vignettes, and evidence from neuroscience and evolutionary psychology help readers apply insights in real time. With over a decade of influence—translating attachment science into easily applicable approaches—this book equips readers with the tools to understand their attachment patterns and grow toward more secure, fulfilling relationships .