EXAMINING THE LINK BETWEEN ATTACHMENT STYLE AND PREFERRED LOVE LANGUAGE

Abstract

Romantic love is a complex emotion that involves the formation of an interpersonal relationship between two individuals. While philosophers, writers, and artists have long explored this emotion, it was only in the last century that the scientific study of romantic love gained interest. One aspect of this emotion is the concept of love languages, which was introduced by Chapman. His theory outlines how we express and experience love through five principal love languages: words of affirmation, quality time, receiving gifts, acts of service, and physical touch. Recognizing these differences in communication can have a significant impact on a relationship. However, to gain a deeper understanding of the individual needs of partners and their current or past behaviors in relationships, it is essential to consider attachment styles. Research on adult attachment is grounded in the belief that the same motivational system responsible for creating the close emotional bond between parents and children is also responsible for the bond that forms between adults in emotionally intimate relationships. Despite the acceptance of Chapman's love language theory by professionals, little research has been done to explore its connections with other constructs, such as attachment style. Further exploration of these connections may contribute to a more comprehensive understanding of romantic love and ultimately enhance our ability to navigate intimate relationships. The aim of this study is to explore the relationship between the love language and attachment style. According to it we conducted the research among 108 participants, all women, ranging in age from 20 to 68, who were in committed relationships with a permanent partner. The participants' average age was 38.47 years. The duration of the relationships varied among the participants, with the majority (43.5%) having been together for over ten years, followed by 20.4% in relationships for less than ten years, 19.4% for less than one year, and 16.7% for less than five years. In terms of education, the majority (56.5%) had an undergraduate degree, while 23.1% held a master's degree, 9.3% had a doctorate, and 11.1% had completed high school. All participants identified as Macedonian and practiced the Orthodox religion. The results show that individuals with a secure attachment style mostly preferred quality time, physical touch, and words of affirmation, while those with an avoidant attachment style were more likely to prefer acts of service and receiving gifts. People with an anxious attachment style showed a higher preference for quality time and receiving gifts, and dismissive attachment style individuals showed the lowest preference for all love languages. However, the chi-square test did not support the hypothesis that there is a significant association between attachment styles and preferred love languages. Nonetheless, the findings provide insights into the complex relationship between attachment styles and love languages, highlighting the importance of understanding individual differences in the ways that people express and receive love in relationships.