In emerging adulthood, romantic relationships gain seriousness and emotional intimacy. They become more long-lasting, and are more likely to also figure as attachment relationships. Still, they are mostly of limited duration and also the current divorce rate shows, that even marriages aren’t always livelong communities. Nonetheless, most people – especially in adolescence and young adulthood – enter new relationships at some point. Attachment theory not only provides a framework for understanding partnerships in adulthood, but also stresses the importance and influence of past experiences for the present attachment security. The presentation looks at the development of attachment in former relationship and their relevance for subsequent partnerships. It wants to shed light on the question, which parts of past love relationships are carried into current relationships and on the significance of former attachment bonds and separation experiences in influencing the present.

Biograpy:

Ulrike Lux, Psy.-Dipl., Systemic Therapist (CGIST Munich), studied Psychology at the Ludwig-Maximilians-University of Munich and completed her dissertation to the influence of previous pair bonds on current attachments, where she developed an attachment interview for former partnerships and and examined the relevance of former attachment relationships in young adults. She is also trainer of the parents‘ programme after divorce and separation: “Looking out for our kids“ and certified coder of the Current Relationship Interview. Already since 2011 she works as a Psychologist at the Child Guidance Counselling Centre of the District of Munich and since 2016 she is employed as Research Assistant of the Research Director at the German Youth Institute Munich.