How Attachment Styles Influence Friendship Dynamics

We don’t often talk about how attachment dynamics play out in friendships — but if you’ve ever felt anxious, hurt, or overly invested in a friend who seemed to be pulling away, you’ll know just how triggering these relationships can be.

While attachment theory was originally developed to explain the infant-caregiver bond and later applied to romantic relationships, many of the same fears, patterns, and protective strategies show up in our platonic relationships too — especially when they carry emotional significance.

In this episode, we’re exploring how different attachment styles can impact the way we relate to our friends, why friendship ruptures can feel just as painful (if not more so) than romantic ones, and how to navigate these dynamics with more clarity, compassion, and self-respect.

00:00 Introduction
00:55 Announcements and Updates
01:54 Attachment Theory and Friendships Overview
03:50 Anxious Attachment in Friendships
06:27 Dismissive Avoidant in Friendships
08:01 Fearful Avoidant in Friendships
09:34 Differing Attachment Patterns in Friendships vs Romantic Relationships
10:36 Common Friendship Dynamics
11:21 The Non-Exclusive Nature of Friendships
12:38 Childhood Wounds and Friendship
13:57 Managing Friendship Expectations
16:57 Navigating Conflict in Friendships
19:55 Concluding Thoughts