The Attachment Style That Is Most Likely To Play Hard-To-Get & Who Is Attracted By It

If you've ever watched a romantic comedy or, honestly, dated at all, you're probably familiar with the concept of "playing hard-to-get," the idea that by acting uninterested in a partner, you can conversely gain their affection.

The counterintuitive nature of the strategy aside, it's definitely a common tactic—common enough that it was the topic of a published study in Personality and Individual Differences1.

Based on their research, the study concluded that hard-to-get habits are associated with certain attachment styles. Attachment theory holds that the way people behave in relationships (known as their attachment style) is formed during childhood based on their relationships with their earliest caregivers.

Those who grow up with attentive caregivers tend to grow up to have a secure attachment style, whereas those who had more complicated relationships with their caregivers tend to grow up with an insecure attachment style, whether that's an avoidant attachment style or an anxious attachment style.

Researchers found that those who have a more avoidant attachment style are the most likely to play hard-to-get. This attachment style is characterized by a penchant for forming less secure relationships, motivated by a desire to keep a sense of independence. About 25% of adults have an avoidant attachment style, according to the foundational research in the area.

On the other side of the equation, those who are most likely to pursue people who played hard-to-get are those who demonstrated traits of attachment anxiety, which is rooted in a fear of abandonment and includes increased neediness. About 19% of adults have this attachment style.

"The nice thing is it's compatible. If you're secure about yourself and about others loving you, you're less likely to get involved in such game-playing," said Gillath, "and you're not playing hard-to-get or pursuing people that are playing hard-to-get. But if you're insecure, you're more likely to use these strategies, playing and pursuing, and it's serving a role for both sides."

"Hard-to-get behaviors seem to serve as strategies to self-protect and manage potential partners' behaviors," explained Omri Gillath, Ph.D., professor of psychology at the University of Kansas, who co-wrote the paper.

They explain that the general behaviors and strategies we use to find a partner may have some basis in early childhood experiences. Depending on the person, the practice of playing hard-to-get isn't necessarily about the romance: It's more about survival. The researchers believe their study will shed light on how those with avoidant and anxious attachment styles attempt to protect themselves in relationships.

"Sometimes, it's not so much about the relationship but about helping people to stay in control," Gillath said. "Some people are behaving in such a way because they're terrified. They can't trust anyone—and they're doing whatever they can to protect themselves from getting hurt again."

According to the researchers, "playing hard-to-get" is a manifestation of psychological power dynamics—one that works but may not lead to long-term, successful relationships.

"We're not saying it's good or it's bad, but for some people these strategies are working," he said. "It helps people create relationships and get the partners they want.  But who's doing it, and what are the outcomes? These people are usually insecure people—and their relationships are often ones that won't last long or will be dissatisfying."

As sexologist Gigi Engle tells mbg, the secret to successful dating may be the very opposite of playing hard-to-get: getting vulnerable.