Clinicians can group adult primary attachment
relationships according to internal working model as well as
arousal bias. Romantic partners may demonstrate a sympathetic or
parasympathetic bias that drives the dyad toward hyper-aroused or
hypo-aroused poles. This could be the case whether or not the
couple represents a secure or insecure dyadic system. Low arousal,
avoidant couples tend to present with a similar set of symptoms
including, but not exclusive to chronic low libido, chronic
indecisiveness, chronic reliance upon autoregulation, chronic low
contact maintenance- proximity seeking, and chronic use of
dissociation as a primary defense against intrusion. These couples
do not get into a loud arguments or fights. Despite obvious mutual
dependencies, partners often express a preference for being alone.
By contrast, high arousal couples are often found to have very high
libidos, high levels of contact maintenance and proximity seeking,
high-capacity for both positive and negative vitality affects (e.g.
ecstasy and rage), and low capacity for soothing and calming. These
couples demonstrate rapid kindling for intense fighting and
predatory behavior.