When avoidantly attached individuals are simultaneously high in attachment anxiety, they are inclined to experience strong
internal conflicts between seeking and avoiding closeness. This research examined whether the extent to which closeness,
assessed as the inclusion of other in the self (IOS), is associated with greater commitment varies within individuals high in
attachment avoidance as a result of differences in ambivalence toward maintaining the relationship. In two studies (N1 ¼ 1,604, N2
¼ 2,271), we found that the positive association between IOS and commitment was significantly weaker when attachment
avoidance was combined with high (vs. low) attachment anxiety. In Study 2, we found lingering relational ambivalence even at high
levels of IOS among individuals simultaneously high in attachment avoidance and anxiety, which in turn was related to relatively
low commitment. Our findings highlight the role of relational ambivalence in avoidants’ relationship functioning and the need to
examine the interplay of the two attachment dimensions.