{"id":40991,"date":"2026-03-02T13:33:05","date_gmt":"2026-03-02T11:33:05","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.attachmentproject.com\/?page_id=40991"},"modified":"2026-03-02T18:53:59","modified_gmt":"2026-03-02T16:53:59","slug":"dismissive-avoidants-relationship-intimacy","status":"publish","type":"page","link":"https:\/\/www.attachmentproject.com\/love\/dismissive-avoidants-relationship-intimacy\/","title":{"rendered":"Dating a Dismissive Avoidant: 5 Common Misconceptions"},"content":{"rendered":"<style>\r\n    h1{\r\n        font-size: 48px!important;\r\n    }\r\n\r\n    #gutenberg-content #text_imageblock_e6b3ddcc1f73bb8e24df4ee65d6f2616 h1, #gutenberg-content #text_imageblock_e6b3ddcc1f73bb8e24df4ee65d6f2616 h2, #gutenberg-content #text_imageblock_e6b3ddcc1f73bb8e24df4ee65d6f2616 h3,\r\n    #gutenberg-content #text_imageblock_e6b3ddcc1f73bb8e24df4ee65d6f2616 h4 {\r\n        letter-spacing: 0.02em;\r\n        color: #513D62;\r\n        font-weight: 700;\r\n        line-height: 1.3;\r\n        margin-bottom: 23px;\r\n    }\r\n\r\n    #text_imageblock_e6b3ddcc1f73bb8e24df4ee65d6f2616    p {\r\n        font-family: 'Karla', san-serif;\r\n        letter-spacing: 0.02em;\r\n        color: #000000;\r\n        font-size: 18px;\r\n    }\r\n\r\n    #gutenberg-content #text_imageblock_e6b3ddcc1f73bb8e24df4ee65d6f2616 img {\r\n        max-width: 100%;\r\n        height: auto;\r\n        object-fit: cover;\r\n    }\r\n\r\n    #text_imageblock_e6b3ddcc1f73bb8e24df4ee65d6f2616    .small-separator {\r\n        width: px;\r\n        height: 10px;\r\n     margin-bottom: 2rem;\r\n        margin-left: 2rem;\r\n     background-color: #fff;\r\n\r\n    }\r\n\r\n    #text_imageblock_e6b3ddcc1f73bb8e24df4ee65d6f2616    .text-wrapper {\r\n        padding: auto;\r\n        background-color: #fff;\r\n        border-radius: 50px;\r\n    }\r\n\r\n    #text_imageblock_e6b3ddcc1f73bb8e24df4ee65d6f2616    .text-wrapper table {\r\n        border: 1px solid #333840;\r\n    }\r\n\r\n    #text_imageblock_e6b3ddcc1f73bb8e24df4ee65d6f2616    .text-wrapper table tr td {\r\n        border: 1px solid #333840;\r\n    }\r\n\r\n    #text_imageblock_e6b3ddcc1f73bb8e24df4ee65d6f2616    .text-wrapper p, .text-wrapper a {\r\n        color: #333840 !important;\r\n        line-height: 23px;\r\n    }\r\n\r\n    #text_imageblock_e6b3ddcc1f73bb8e24df4ee65d6f2616    .text-wrapper li {\r\n        letter-spacing: 0.02em;\r\n        color: #333840;\r\n        font-size: 18px;\r\n        line-height: 23px;\r\n    }\r\n\r\n    #text_imageblock_e6b3ddcc1f73bb8e24df4ee65d6f2616    .text-wrapper h2 {\r\n        margin-bottom: 25px;\r\n        font-size: 38px !important;\r\n    }\r\n\r\n    #gutenberg-content #text_imageblock_e6b3ddcc1f73bb8e24df4ee65d6f2616 .text-wrapper h3 {\r\n        margin-bottom: 15px;\r\n        font-size: 32px !important;\r\n    }\r\n\r\n    #gutenberg-content #text_imageblock_e6b3ddcc1f73bb8e24df4ee65d6f2616 .text-wrapper h4 {\r\n        margin-bottom: 15px;\r\n        font-size: 28px !important;\r\n    }\r\n\r\n    @media (max-width: 480px) {\r\n\r\n    #text_imageblock_e6b3ddcc1f73bb8e24df4ee65d6f2616 .text-wrapper {\r\n        padding: auto;\r\n    }\r\n\r\n        #gutenberg-content #text_imageblock_e6b3ddcc1f73bb8e24df4ee65d6f2616 img {\r\n            max-width: 100%;\r\n            height: auto;\r\n            object-fit: cover;\r\n        }\r\n    }\r\n<\/style>\r\n\r\n<div id=\"text_imageblock_e6b3ddcc1f73bb8e24df4ee65d6f2616\" class=\"container \" style=\"max-width: 900px;\">\r\n    <div class=\"row justify-content-sm-start justify-content-center\">\r\n        <div class=\"col-sm-12 order-sm-1 order-2\">\r\n            <div class=\"small-separator d-none\"><\/div>\r\n            <div class=\"text-wrapper\">\r\n                <p><strong>Dating someone with a dismissive-avoidant attachment style<\/strong> can be confusing &#8211; this attachment style is often misunderstood, and can seem cold to partners who are low in avoidance. However, people with high attachment avoidance do want love, perhaps even moreso than others <a href=\"#ref-1\">[1]<\/a>; so why do we so often mischaracterize this attachment style?<\/p>\n<p>In this article, we\u2019ll talk about what it\u2019s really like to date someone with a dismissive-avoidant attachment style, how they experience love and intimacy, how they behave in a relationship, and whether or not a dismissive-avoidant attachment style can change.<\/p>\n<h2>Dating a Dismissive Avoidant<\/h2>\n<p>At first, it might not be obvious that you\u2019re dating someone with a dismissive-avoidant attachment style. There might be clues in their general attitudes to relationships, such as wanting to date casually at first or take it slow, but these aren\u2019t necessarily signs of avoidance &#8211; lots of people with <a href=\"https:\/\/www.attachmentproject.com\/blog\/what-does-secure-attachment-look-like\/\">secure attachment styles<\/a> would also prefer to take things slowly while they get to know you.<\/p>\n<p style=\"text-align: center;\"><a style=\"color: #fff!important; background-color: #604c8d!important; border-radius: 10px; text-decoration: none; font-weight: bold; font-size: 20px; display: inline-block; padding: 12px 20px;\" href=\"https:\/\/quiz.attachmentproject.com\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">DISCOVER YOUR ATTACHMENT STYLE<\/a><\/p>\n<p>However, as the relationship progresses, the <a href=\"https:\/\/www.attachmentproject.com\/blog\/avoidant-attachment-style\/\">avoidant attachment<\/a> system can easily become overwhelmed. Closeness and intimacy doesn\u2019t feel safe to someone with a dismissive-avoidant attachment style, so they can start to pull back. If they\u2019re not <a href=\"https:\/\/www.attachmentproject.com\/blog\/communicate-with-avoidant-partner\/\">good at communication<\/a> or emotional regulation, this can feel confusing and hurtful, and leave you wondering why <a href=\"https:\/\/www.attachmentproject.com\/blog\/avoidant-discard\/\">dismissive-avoidants pull back<\/a> when the relationship is going well.<\/p>\n<p>They\u2019re not being confusing and hurtful on purpose &#8211; in fact, they\u2019re pulling back because their feelings are real. As they start to feel closer and less autonomous in a relationship, they can engage in \u201c<a href=\"https:\/\/www.attachmentproject.com\/love\/signs-avoidant-is-done-with-you\/\">deactivating strategies<\/a>\u201d that create a distance that feels safe again. Once they feel safe, they might re-engage in the relationship, leading into a hot and cold dynamic that can feel even more confusing.<\/p>\n<h2>How a Dismissive Avoidant Experiences Love<\/h2>\n<p>It\u2019s tempting to blame dismissive behavior on a lack of love, but this isn\u2019t really what\u2019s happening. People with dismissive-avoidant attachment styles do want to feel love and are capable of experiencing it, but it might not always look the way you expect &#8211; especially if you have an <a href=\"https:\/\/www.attachmentproject.com\/blog\/anxious-attachment\/\">anxious attachment style<\/a>.<\/p>\n<p><strong>Common misconception 1: \u201cAvoidants don\u2019t want love\u201d.<\/strong><\/p>\n<p>People with high attachment avoidance can appear to have \u201cwalls up\u201d, defending themselves from love even though they want to experience it. If you\u2019re high in attachment anxiety, you might find it difficult to understand why your partner doesn\u2019t want to move as quickly or act as \u201ccouply\u201d as you do. If your attachment style is secure, you might find it easier to understand but still feel uncertain about the pace of your relationship.<\/p>\n<p>Everybody\u2019s different and everybody prefers to show and receive love in different ways. It might be worth having a conversation with your partner if you think there might be a mismatch &#8211; for instance, they might be more comfortable receiving love through practical support rather than emotional support, and, in turn, <a href=\"https:\/\/www.attachmentproject.com\/love\/signs-avoidant-loves-you\/\">they may not know how best to show you love until you tell them<\/a>.<\/p>\n<h3>How to Make a Dismissive Avoidant Feel Safe<\/h3>\n<p>Autonomy is important to someone with a dismissive-avoidant attachment style &#8211; when they pull away, trying to pull them back in will only push them away further. Allowing them to express their autonomy helps them to feel safe. One study on <a href=\"https:\/\/www.attachmentproject.com\/blog\/four-attachment-styles\/\">attachment styles<\/a> and relationship conflict found that the worst outcomes occurred when one partner withdrew and the other kept pushing or escalating <a href=\"#ref-2\">[2]<\/a>.<\/p>\n<p>When conflict arises, someone with a dismissive-avoidant attachment style might need time to process before they\u2019re ready to discuss the problem. When they\u2019re ready to talk, soft communication strategies have been found to work best: expressing value and positive regard for your avoidant partner, being sensitive to their needs, acknowledging their efforts, validating their point of view, and showing positivity about the relationship can support problem-solving and decrease avoidant withdrawal <a href=\"#ref-3\">[3]<\/a>.<\/p>\n<p><strong>Common misconception 2: \u201cAvoidants will always pull away when you try to give them support.\u201d<\/strong><\/p>\n<p>A groundbreaking piece of research found that people high in avoidance respond best to very low or very high levels of practical support, but that they don\u2019t respond well to anything in between <a href=\"#ref-4\">[4]<\/a>. While low levels of support keep an avoidant partner in their comfort zone, very high levels of support could override their beliefs that others are unreliable, proving beyond a doubt that their partner is \u201cable and willing to be helpful\u201d. Practical support, like offering solutions and helpful information, is typically better received than emotional support for people high in avoidance.<\/p>\n<h2>Dismissive Avoidant and Intimacy<\/h2>\n<h3>Kissing, Touch, and Physical Affection<\/h3>\n<p>If you and your partner have different attachment styles, it\u2019s likely you experience <a href=\"https:\/\/www.attachmentproject.com\/love\/affective-touch\/\">touch<\/a> differently too. As with emotional closeness, greater attachment avoidance has been linked with greater discomfort with physical closeness and affection <a href=\"#ref-5\">[5]<\/a>.<\/p>\n<p>Research has suggested that people high in avoidance believe they are more likely to use touch to avoid a negative outcome, and less likely to use touch to move toward a positive outcome &#8211; but their day to day behavior isn\u2019t that different compared with people lower in avoidance <a href=\"#ref-5\">[5]<\/a>. Another interesting finding from this study was that partners of people with greater attachment avoidance are more likely to use touch to prevent a negative outcome, such as feeling badly about themselves, which predicted lower ratings of relationship quality for both partners.<\/p>\n<p><strong>Common misconception 3: \u201cAvoidants don\u2019t want physical intimacy.\u201d<\/strong><\/p>\n<p>Another study found that touch frequency was beneficial for well-being even for people with attachment avoidance and people who express a discomfort with closeness <a href=\"#ref-6\">[6]<\/a>. This doesn\u2019t mean that you should ignore your partner\u2019s <a href=\"https:\/\/www.attachmentproject.com\/blog\/boundaries-and-attachment-styles\/\">boundaries<\/a>, but that conversations about touch with your avoidant partner might involve supporting them to see the benefits for both of you.<\/p>\n<p style=\"text-align: center;\"><a style=\"color: #fff!important; background-color: #604c8d!important; border-radius: 10px; text-decoration: none; font-weight: bold; font-size: 20px; display: inline-block; padding: 12px 20px;\" href=\"https:\/\/www.attachmentproject.com\/personal-courses\/attachment-repair-program\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">START YOUR ATTACHMENT HEALING JOURNEY<\/a><\/p>\n<h3>Dismissive Avoidant and Sex<\/h3>\n<p>Dismissive-avoidant approaches to sex are similar to their approaches to other kinds of touch. For someone with an avoidant attachment style, sex might not be as intimate or emotionally meaningful as it is for people lower in avoidance &#8211; but this doesn\u2019t mean it can\u2019t be those things.<\/p>\n<p>The impact of sex and touch for an avoidnant partner may be dependent on the context. If they\u2019re in a positive relationship that they feel safe in, they may feel greater benefits and more comfort with sex and touch.<\/p>\n<h2>Dismissive Avoidant Relationship Behaviors: Why Do They Shut Down?<\/h2>\n<p>For dismissive-avoidants, relationships don\u2019t feel safe because they have learned that others will not be there for them. This makes it scary to trust and rely on others, even if they want to be in loving relationships. When relationships feel too intense, whether due to high conflict or <a href=\"https:\/\/www.attachmentproject.com\/psychology\/fear-of-intimacy\/\">fear of intimacy<\/a>, they might:<\/p>\n<ul>\n<li>Experience avoidant deactivation<\/li>\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/www.attachmentproject.com\/psychology\/self-sabotage-attachment\/\">Self-sabotage<\/a> to create distance<\/li>\n<li>End the relationship for any reason<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p><strong>Common misconception 4: \u201cAvoidants don\u2019t care.\u201d<\/strong><\/p>\n<p>Even though they can appear to be unbothered, avoidant behaviors are actually masking high stress. We know this from studies showing that avoidance takes cognitive effort, and increased demand on cognitive load leads to a collapse of these avoidance strategies and increased negative self-evaluation <a href=\"#ref-7\">[7]<\/a>. In other words, avoidant behavior is a protective mechanism, rather than indifference.<\/p>\n<h3>Do Dismissive Avoidants Get Jealous?<\/h3>\n<p>If you have more attachment anxiety and lower avoidance than your partner, it might feel like you have vast differences in how you experience jealousy. You might be right &#8211; but first, we need to understand jealousy a little better.<\/p>\n<p>One way of looking at jealousy is to separate it into 3 categories: behavioral jealousy, emotional jealousy, and cognitive jealousy <a href=\"#ref-8\">[8]<\/a>. These are described below:<\/p>\n<table>\n<thead>\n<tr>\n<th>Type of Jealousy<\/th>\n<th>Description<\/th>\n<th>Example<\/th>\n<\/tr>\n<\/thead>\n<tbody>\n<tr>\n<td>Behavioral jealousy<\/td>\n<td>Engaging in protective or detective behaviors.<\/td>\n<td>Going through your partner\u2019s phone.<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr>\n<td>Emotional jealousy<\/td>\n<td>Feeling strong emotions in response to jealousy-evoking situations.<\/td>\n<td>Feeling very upset when your partner flirts with someone else.<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr>\n<td>Cognitive jealousy<\/td>\n<td>Having thoughts about your partner being interested in someone else.<\/td>\n<td>Having frequent suspicions that your partner is attracted to someone else.<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/tbody>\n<\/table>\n<p>One study found no differences between secure and dismissive-avoidant individuals on their scores across all 3 types of jealousy, while people with high attachment anxiety typically scored higher on behavioral and cognitive jealousy <a href=\"#ref-9\">[9]<\/a>. In fact, higher avoidance was associated with lower jealousy in this study.<\/p>\n<p>This doesn\u2019t mean that dismissive-avoidants don\u2019t feel jealousy, just that they may be less likely to experience it than people lower in attachment avoidance. Jealousy is a normal human emotion, and we all feel jealous sometimes.<\/p>\n<p>Studies have also found a possible difference in how we cope with <a href=\"https:\/\/www.attachmentproject.com\/blog\/jealousy-attachment-styles\/\">jealousy<\/a> depending on our attachment styles &#8211; in one paper, attachment avoidance predicted lower likelihood of coping using constructive communication and higher likelihood of coping with jealousy using destructive-avoidant communication, like silence and negativity <a href=\"#ref-10\">[10]<\/a>.<\/p>\n<h2>Two Dismissive Avoidants in a Relationship<\/h2>\n<p>We\u2019ve talked a lot about when one partner is more avoidant than the other, but what if you\u2019re <strong>both dismissive-avoidant in a relationship<\/strong>?<\/p>\n<p>If you\u2019re both dismissive-avoidant, you might have an easier time managing your need for autonomy but find it difficult to resolve conflict. Dismissive-avoidants respond best to soft communication, yet are the most likely to express anger and withdrawal &#8211; so communicating during conflict can be particularly tricky for you <a href=\"#ref-3\">[3]<\/a>. Having an awareness of both of your attachment styles and how they interact can help you to improve your communication in your relationship.<\/p>\n<h2>Can a Dismissive Avoidant Change?<\/h2>\n<p>If you\u2019re finding avoidant behaviors in your relationship challenging, you might be wondering whether attachment styles can change. The good news is, yes, they can &#8211; and they generally skew more secure with time <a href=\"#ref-11\">[11]<\/a>.<\/p>\n<p><strong>Common misconception 5: \u201cAvoidants can\u2019t change.\u201d<\/strong><\/p>\n<p>Positive relationship experiences are one of the most effective ways to gain earned secure attachment. By showing your partner that you\u2019re reliable, that you care about and listen to their needs, and that you can be consistent, you gradually teach them that relationships are safer than they thought.<\/p>\n<p>This change won\u2019t happen overnight &#8211; it\u2019s a gradual process and it likely won\u2019t be linear. If the avoidant partner makes active efforts to increase their attachment security, they might be able to achieve an earned secure attachment style quicker (but still not quickly).<\/p>\n<h2>Conclusion<\/h2>\n<p>A dismissive-avoidant attachment in relationships can present challenges, particularly if the other partner is high in attachment anxiety. You will hear lots of advice and information about how to date a dismissive-avoidant, but there are several common misconceptions you might run into.<\/p>\n<p style=\"text-align: center;\"><a style=\"color: #fff!important; background-color: #604c8d!important; border-radius: 10px; text-decoration: none; font-weight: bold; font-size: 20px; display: inline-block; padding: 12px 20px;\" href=\"https:\/\/quiz.attachmentproject.com\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">DISCOVER YOUR ATTACHMENT STYLE<\/a><\/p>\n<p>People with the dismissive-avoidant attachment style do want love, they can just find it more difficult to feel safe in it. Their avoidant protective mechanisms may come across as indifference, but they actually mask high levels of stress. Soft communication and high levels of support can help an avoidant partner to feel safer navigating conflict, and positive relationship experiences like these can, over time, lead them to develop an earned secure attachment style.<\/p>\n<h2>FAQs About Dismissive Avoidant Relationships<\/h2>\n<h3>Why does my dismissive avoidant partner avoid kissing?<\/h3>\n<p>A dismissive-avoidant partner could avoid kissing for lots of reasons, and not all of them are necessarily related to their attachment style. While it\u2019s true that dismisssive-avoidants are less interested in physical touch, they tend to show the same amount of affection when observed day to day &#8211; so something else might be going on if your partner is avoiding physical contact.<\/p>\n<h3>What does a dismissive avoidant look like after sex?<\/h3>\n<p>People with dismissive-avoidant attachment styles can find the emotional intimacy involved in sex uncomfortable, and they might be less likely to experience it as something that forms an emotional bond. They might be uncomfortable with displays of emotional intimacy after sex, but this depends on the nature of their relationship.<\/p>\n<h3>Can two dismissive avoidants have a successful relationship?<\/h3>\n<p>Two dismissive avoidants can have a successful relationship, but they might find it difficult to navigate conflict. It would be important to learn how their attachment styles interact and what to do to support each other.<\/p>\n<h3>Do Dismissive Avoidants Love Bomb?<\/h3>\n<p>Dismissive-avoidants might be more comfortable during the early stages of a relationship, leading them to make promises they can\u2019t keep and act in ways they can\u2019t sustain. This could look like <a href=\"https:\/\/www.attachmentproject.com\/love\/love-bombing\/\">love bombing<\/a>, but it isn\u2019t an intentional attempt to manipulate the relationship &#8211; instead, it happens because discomfort sets in once the intimacy starts to build.<\/p>\n<h3>Why does my DA partner pull away when things are going well?<\/h3>\n<p>High intensity, whether due to conflict or intimacy, can be uncomfortable for a dismissive avoidant partner. When things are going well, your dismissive avoidant partner can feel scared to lose their autonomy or rely on someone else, leading them to pull away even though things were good.<\/p>\n<h2>References<\/h2>\n<div id=\"ref-1\" style=\"text-align: center;\"><em>1. Carvallo M, Gabriel S. No man is an island: The need to belong and dismissing avoidant attachment style. Personality and Social Psychology Bulletin. 2006 May;32(5):697-709.<\/em><\/div>\n<div id=\"ref-2\" style=\"text-align: center;\"><em>2. Breta\u00f1a I, Alonso-Arbiol I, Recio P, Molero F. Avoidant attachment, withdrawal-aggression conflict pattern, and relationship satisfaction: A mediational dyadic Model. Frontiers in psychology. 2022 Jan 31;12:794942.<\/em><\/div>\n<div id=\"ref-3\" style=\"text-align: center;\"><em>3. Overall NC, Simpson JA, Struthers H. Buffering attachment-related avoidance: softening emotional and behavioral defenses during conflict discussions. Journal of personality and social psychology. 2013 May;104(5):854.<\/em><\/div>\n<div id=\"ref-4\" style=\"text-align: center;\"><em>4. Girme YU, Overall NC, Simpson JA, Fletcher GJ. \u201cAll or nothing\u201d: Attachment avoidance and the curvilinear effects of partner support. Journal of Personality and Social Psychology. 2015 Mar;108(3):450.<\/em><\/div>\n<div id=\"ref-5\" style=\"text-align: center;\"><em>5. Jakubiak BK, Debrot A, Kim J, Impett EA. Approach and avoidance motives for touch are predicted by attachment and predict daily relationship well-being. Journal of Social and Personal Relationships. 2021 Jan;38(1):256-78.<\/em><\/div>\n<div id=\"ref-6\" style=\"text-align: center;\"><em>6. Debrot A, Stellar JE, MacDonald G, Keltner D, Impett EA. Is Touch in Romantic Relationships Universally Beneficial for Psychological Well-Being? The Role of Attachment Avoidance.<\/em><\/div>\n<div id=\"ref-7\" style=\"text-align: center;\"><em>7. Mikulincer M, Dolev T, Shaver PR. Attachment-related strategies during thought suppression: ironic rebounds and vulnerable self-representations. Journal of personality and social psychology. 2004 Dec;87(6):940.<\/em><\/div>\n<div id=\"ref-8\" style=\"text-align: center;\"><em>8. Pfeiffer SM, Wong PT. Multidimensional jealousy. Journal of social and personal relationships. 1989 May;6(2):181-96.<\/em><\/div>\n<div id=\"ref-9\" style=\"text-align: center;\"><em>9. Chursina AV. The impact of romantic attachment styles on jealousy in young adults. Psychology in Russia: State of the art. 2023;16(3):222-32.<\/em><\/div>\n<div id=\"ref-10\" style=\"text-align: center;\"><em>10. \u0130nkaya T, G\u00fcng\u00f6r A. Investigating the predictive effects of attachment styles on coping styles with jealousy in romantic relationships. Kastamonu Education Journal. 2023 Jul 7;31(3):378-85.<\/em><\/div>\n<div id=\"ref-11\" style=\"text-align: center;\"><em>11. Chopik WJ, Edelstein RS, Grimm KJ. Longitudinal changes in attachment orientation over a 59-year period. Journal of Personality and Social Psychology. 2019 Apr;116(4):598.<\/em><\/div>\n            <\/div>\r\n        <\/div>\r\n            <\/div>\r\n<\/div>","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"","protected":false},"author":14,"featured_media":0,"parent":23220,"menu_order":0,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","template":"page-v2.php","meta":{"_acf_changed":false,"inline_featured_image":false,"footnotes":""},"class_list":["post-40991","page","type-page","status-publish","hentry"],"acf":[],"yoast_head":"<!-- This site is optimized with the Yoast SEO plugin v27.1.1 - https:\/\/yoast.com\/product\/yoast-seo-wordpress\/ -->\n<title>Dismissive Avoidant in Relationships: Dating, Kissing and Sex<\/title>\n<meta name=\"description\" content=\"How does a dismissive avoidant experience love, sex, and intimacy? Understand now their relationship patterns and what drives withdrawal!\" \/>\n<meta name=\"robots\" content=\"index, follow, max-snippet:-1, max-image-preview:large, max-video-preview:-1\" \/>\n<link rel=\"canonical\" href=\"https:\/\/www.attachmentproject.com\/love\/dismissive-avoidants-relationship-intimacy\/\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:locale\" content=\"en_US\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:type\" content=\"article\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:title\" content=\"Dismissive Avoidant in Relationships: Dating, Kissing and Sex\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:description\" content=\"How does a dismissive avoidant experience love, sex, and intimacy? Understand now their relationship patterns and what drives withdrawal!\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:url\" content=\"https:\/\/www.attachmentproject.com\/love\/dismissive-avoidants-relationship-intimacy\/\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:site_name\" content=\"Attachment Project\" \/>\n<meta property=\"article:publisher\" content=\"https:\/\/www.facebook.com\/attachmentproject\" \/>\n<meta property=\"article:modified_time\" content=\"2026-03-02T16:53:59+00:00\" \/>\n<meta name=\"twitter:card\" content=\"summary_large_image\" \/>\n<meta name=\"twitter:site\" content=\"@attachmentproj\" \/>\n<meta name=\"twitter:label1\" content=\"Est. reading time\" \/>\n\t<meta name=\"twitter:data1\" content=\"11 minutes\" \/>\n<script type=\"application\/ld+json\" class=\"yoast-schema-graph\">{\"@context\":\"https:\/\/schema.org\",\"@graph\":[{\"@type\":\"WebPage\",\"@id\":\"https:\/\/www.attachmentproject.com\/love\/dismissive-avoidants-relationship-intimacy\/\",\"url\":\"https:\/\/www.attachmentproject.com\/love\/dismissive-avoidants-relationship-intimacy\/\",\"name\":\"Dismissive Avoidant in Relationships: Dating, Kissing and Sex\",\"isPartOf\":{\"@id\":\"https:\/\/www.attachmentproject.com\/#website\"},\"datePublished\":\"2026-03-02T11:33:05+00:00\",\"dateModified\":\"2026-03-02T16:53:59+00:00\",\"description\":\"How does a dismissive avoidant experience love, sex, and intimacy? Understand now their relationship patterns and what drives withdrawal!\",\"breadcrumb\":{\"@id\":\"https:\/\/www.attachmentproject.com\/love\/dismissive-avoidants-relationship-intimacy\/#breadcrumb\"},\"inLanguage\":\"en-US\",\"potentialAction\":[{\"@type\":\"ReadAction\",\"target\":[\"https:\/\/www.attachmentproject.com\/love\/dismissive-avoidants-relationship-intimacy\/\"]}]},{\"@type\":\"BreadcrumbList\",\"@id\":\"https:\/\/www.attachmentproject.com\/love\/dismissive-avoidants-relationship-intimacy\/#breadcrumb\",\"itemListElement\":[{\"@type\":\"ListItem\",\"position\":1,\"name\":\"Home\",\"item\":\"https:\/\/www.attachmentproject.com\/\"},{\"@type\":\"ListItem\",\"position\":2,\"name\":\"Love\",\"item\":\"https:\/\/www.attachmentproject.com\/love\/\"},{\"@type\":\"ListItem\",\"position\":3,\"name\":\"Dating a Dismissive Avoidant: 5 Common Misconceptions\"}]},{\"@type\":\"WebSite\",\"@id\":\"https:\/\/www.attachmentproject.com\/#website\",\"url\":\"https:\/\/www.attachmentproject.com\/\",\"name\":\"Attachment Project\",\"description\":\"Online courses with renowned specialists in attachment theory\",\"potentialAction\":[{\"@type\":\"SearchAction\",\"target\":{\"@type\":\"EntryPoint\",\"urlTemplate\":\"https:\/\/www.attachmentproject.com\/?s={search_term_string}\"},\"query-input\":{\"@type\":\"PropertyValueSpecification\",\"valueRequired\":true,\"valueName\":\"search_term_string\"}}],\"inLanguage\":\"en-US\"}]}<\/script>\n<!-- \/ Yoast SEO plugin. -->","yoast_head_json":{"title":"Dismissive Avoidant in Relationships: Dating, Kissing and Sex","description":"How does a dismissive avoidant experience love, sex, and intimacy? Understand now their relationship patterns and what drives withdrawal!","robots":{"index":"index","follow":"follow","max-snippet":"max-snippet:-1","max-image-preview":"max-image-preview:large","max-video-preview":"max-video-preview:-1"},"canonical":"https:\/\/www.attachmentproject.com\/love\/dismissive-avoidants-relationship-intimacy\/","og_locale":"en_US","og_type":"article","og_title":"Dismissive Avoidant in Relationships: Dating, Kissing and Sex","og_description":"How does a dismissive avoidant experience love, sex, and intimacy? Understand now their relationship patterns and what drives withdrawal!","og_url":"https:\/\/www.attachmentproject.com\/love\/dismissive-avoidants-relationship-intimacy\/","og_site_name":"Attachment Project","article_publisher":"https:\/\/www.facebook.com\/attachmentproject","article_modified_time":"2026-03-02T16:53:59+00:00","twitter_card":"summary_large_image","twitter_site":"@attachmentproj","twitter_misc":{"Est. reading time":"11 minutes"},"schema":{"@context":"https:\/\/schema.org","@graph":[{"@type":"WebPage","@id":"https:\/\/www.attachmentproject.com\/love\/dismissive-avoidants-relationship-intimacy\/","url":"https:\/\/www.attachmentproject.com\/love\/dismissive-avoidants-relationship-intimacy\/","name":"Dismissive Avoidant in Relationships: Dating, Kissing and Sex","isPartOf":{"@id":"https:\/\/www.attachmentproject.com\/#website"},"datePublished":"2026-03-02T11:33:05+00:00","dateModified":"2026-03-02T16:53:59+00:00","description":"How does a dismissive avoidant experience love, sex, and intimacy? Understand now their relationship patterns and what drives withdrawal!","breadcrumb":{"@id":"https:\/\/www.attachmentproject.com\/love\/dismissive-avoidants-relationship-intimacy\/#breadcrumb"},"inLanguage":"en-US","potentialAction":[{"@type":"ReadAction","target":["https:\/\/www.attachmentproject.com\/love\/dismissive-avoidants-relationship-intimacy\/"]}]},{"@type":"BreadcrumbList","@id":"https:\/\/www.attachmentproject.com\/love\/dismissive-avoidants-relationship-intimacy\/#breadcrumb","itemListElement":[{"@type":"ListItem","position":1,"name":"Home","item":"https:\/\/www.attachmentproject.com\/"},{"@type":"ListItem","position":2,"name":"Love","item":"https:\/\/www.attachmentproject.com\/love\/"},{"@type":"ListItem","position":3,"name":"Dating a Dismissive Avoidant: 5 Common Misconceptions"}]},{"@type":"WebSite","@id":"https:\/\/www.attachmentproject.com\/#website","url":"https:\/\/www.attachmentproject.com\/","name":"Attachment Project","description":"Online courses with renowned specialists in attachment theory","potentialAction":[{"@type":"SearchAction","target":{"@type":"EntryPoint","urlTemplate":"https:\/\/www.attachmentproject.com\/?s={search_term_string}"},"query-input":{"@type":"PropertyValueSpecification","valueRequired":true,"valueName":"search_term_string"}}],"inLanguage":"en-US"}]}},"jetpack_sharing_enabled":true,"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.attachmentproject.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages\/40991","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.attachmentproject.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.attachmentproject.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/page"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.attachmentproject.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/14"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.attachmentproject.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=40991"}],"version-history":[{"count":6,"href":"https:\/\/www.attachmentproject.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages\/40991\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":41012,"href":"https:\/\/www.attachmentproject.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages\/40991\/revisions\/41012"}],"up":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.attachmentproject.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages\/23220"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.attachmentproject.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=40991"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}