American singles have no shortage of rubrics they can turn to for determining romantic compatibility. Some of these are more grounded in folk wisdom than others — say, zodiac sign versus Myers-Briggs type — while others are purported to based in psychology, such as enneagram type or love language. Recently, Americans have been obsessed with attachment styles — the idea that there are four "patterns" of attachment, and that these can help determine both the success of a relationship as well as how to communicate with one's partner.
Unlike the mysticism of zodiac signs, the idea of a person's attachment style is rooted in psychology theory. Indeed, attachment theory is taught in psychology programs and taken seriously by psychologists and psychoanalysts alike.
