When your friend Tom first started dating Ashley, he told you all about how much he liked her and described her as being the ÒperfectÓ girl for him. However, Tom was worried that Ashley didn't seem to want a committed relationship, and that she might not like him as much as he liked her. When Ashley broke up with Tom, he became very depressed and spent hours talking with you about what went wrong. What is the most accurate statement?
A) Tom was showing high attachment-related anxiety and low attachment-related avoidance.
B) Tom was showing low attachment-related anxiety and high attachment-related avoidance.
C) Tom would be considered fearful.
D) Tom experienced a normal reaction to a breakup.

Question

Quizplus · Accepted Answer

Tom's worry about Ashley not wanting a committed relationship and not liking him as much as he liked her indicates high attachment-related anxiety. Additionally, his depression after the breakup and his need to talk about it for hours suggest a strong emotional attachment to Ashley, further supporting the high anxiety. However, there is no indication that Tom is avoiding close relationships, which rules out choice B. Choice C (fearful) is a subtype of high anxiety and high avoidance, which is not consistent with the information given about Tom. Finally, while it is common to experience sadness and grief after a breakup, Tom's prolonged depressive symptoms suggest a more severe reaction that is not necessarily "normal."

When Your Friend Tom First Started Dating Ashley, He Told