1. Attachment Theory & Clinginess
- Anxious Attachment: People with this style seek excessive reassurance and fear abandonment (often labeled "clingy").
- Findings: Some studies (e.g., Del Giudice, 2011) suggest men report slightly higher anxious attachment in heterosexual relationships.
- Possible Reasons:
- Men may fear partner loss more due to fewer emotional support networks outside romance.
- Women often have stronger platonic bonds, reducing dependency on one partner.
2. Socialization & Gender Roles
- Men: Taught to suppress emotions, leading to "emotional funneling"—expressing all intimacy needs through a romantic partner.
- Result: May seem "clingy" when they crave connection but lack other outlets.
- Women: Socialized to be caregivers, often set boundaries against clinginess to avoid appearing "needy."
3. Cultural & Contextual Factors
- In patriarchal societies, men may control partners (mistaken for clinginess), while women’s clinginess is stigmatized as "desperation."
- In egalitarian cultures, these gaps shrink (Fisher, 2017).
4. Exceptions & Caveats
- Same-Sex Relationships: No consistent clinginess gap (attachment styles matter more than gender).
- Age: Young men (18–25) show higher clinginess; older men often become more independent.
Key Takeaway
- Not "men are clingier," but societal norms shape how clinginess manifests.
- Data is mixed—individual differences outweigh gender trends.
- Del Giudice (2011), Sex Differences in Attachment Styles
- Fisher (2017), Anatomy of Love
