Superheroes: Anxious, Avoidant, or Secure?

Welcome to the summer of the superhero! With THE AVENGERS starting off the summer with a billion-dollar bang, THE AMAZING SPIDER-MAN swinging into cinemas earlier this month, San Diego Comic-Con just behind us, and THE DARK KNIGHT RISES coming out on July 20, superheroes are now at the forefront of our popular culture.

With that in mind, here’s a question that we’ve long wondered: All that business about x-ray vision and invulnerability aside, what would our favorite superheroes be like when in a romantic relationship or on a date?

We here at Tarcher/Penguin consulted Amir Levine and Rachel S.F. Heller’s groundbreaking book on the science of adult attachment, ATTACHED, to help us decide. For example, we figured that Peter Parker (Spider-Man) would be ‘secure’, while Bruce Wayne (Batman) would be ‘avoidant’. Of course, there are plenty of other characters who fit these relationship styles! Therefore, we’re turning it over to you, our readers, to answer the question of the day:

What’s your favorite superhero’s relationship style?

For reference, here are the 3 distinct relationship behavioral styles as laid out in ATTACHED:

ANXIOUS people are often preoccupied with their relationships and tend to worry about their partner’s ability to love them back.

AVOIDANT people equate intimacy with a loss of independence and constantly try to minimize closeness.

SECURE people feel comfortable with intimacy and are usually warm and loving.

 

Purchase ATTACHED on Amazon, Barnes & Noble, or IndieBound.