6.

Keeping Love at Arm’s Length: The Avoidant Attachment Style

THE LONESOME TRAVELER

Most of us are fascinated with people who go out into the world on their
own, without any hindrances or obligations, without feeling the need to
address or consider others’ needs. From fanciful characters like Forrest
Gump to real-life pioneers like Diane Fossey, such lonesome travelers often
have strong principles and ideological motivations.
In Jon Krakauer’s bestselling book Into the Wild, Chris McCandless, a
superior student and athlete in his early twenties, leaves his ordinary life
behind and heads for the Alaskan wilderness. Traveling alone, with minimal
gear, Chris makes his way toward Alaska with the goal of living off the land
without the help of other human beings. Throughout his journey, Chris
engages people who want to make him a part of their lives, including an
elderly man who offers to adopt him, a young girl who falls in love with
him, and a couple who invites him to live with them. Chris, however, is
determined to make it on his own.
Before reaching his final destination, Chris has his last human interaction
with a man named Gallien who has given him a ride:

During the drive south toward the mountains, Gallien had tried

repeatedly to dissuade Alex [Chris’s pseudonym] from his plan, to

no avail. He even offered to drive Alex all the way to Anchorage so

he could at least buy the kid some decent gear. “No, thanks

anyway,” Alex replied. “I’ll be fine with what I’ve got.” When

Gallien asked whether his parents or some friend knew what he was

up to—anyone who could sound the alarm if he got into trouble and

was overdue—Alex answered calmly that, no, nobody knew of his

plans, that in fact he hadn’t spoken to his family in nearly three