| Summary: | total of 219 twin pairs (115 monozygotic, 75% female) aged 16 to 79 years completed
the Relationship Scales Questionnaire (RSQ) and the Relationship Questionnaire (RQ).
Data analyses estimated the heritability of Bartholomew's four adult attachment styles,
the self- and other-model dimensions, and examined gender differences in genetic and
environmental influences. The results showed an additive genetic and a non-shared
environmental component for the secure, fearful, and preoccupied adult attachment styles
whereas the dismissing style was characterized by shared and non-shared environmental
components. No evidence of sex-specific genetic or shared environmental effects was
found. These results shed some light on the controversy between temperament theorists
who emphasize genetic influences and attachment theorists who emphasize
environmental influences on attachment.
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