Ep 8 // Dr. William Chopik PhD, Associate Professor of Psychology at Michigan State University, discusses his passion for research as part of the Close Relationships Lab. As a leading researcher in Attachment Theory, he explores questions related to why close relationships define us and how our lives become intertwined with particular people. Through the lens of Attachment Theory, there are common threads underlying how we show up in our close relationships that are romantic, platonic, and/or work-related. Why do some people fear abandonment (anxious attachment)? Why do some people push others away (avoidant attachment)? Why are some people more open to trusting others (secure attachment)? These questions can, in part, be answered by considering how we learned to get our needs and desires met by our earliest caregivers (e.g., parents). In other words, we developed patterns of behaviors early in life regarding how to navigate and approach relationships. This line of research leads to other interesting questions related to the degree to which each attachment style is embodied within all of us, if attachment styles are stable over time, what sorts of relationships we find to be fulfilling, and how accurately we (vs. our friends and family) can assess our partners. Dr. Chopik also describes how he ensures that his close relationships continue to thrive: through being responsive, engaging in substantive disclosure, and investing in time – we have to put in effort to keep those who are important to us. >> To learn more about your attachment style, you can check out the Experiences in Close Relationships Scale.