The influence of early attachment on later relationships

• Outline the influence of early attachment on child relationships.

  Research has found that children who developed a secure attachment as an infant would develop healthier childhood friendships than children who developed an insecure attachment as an infant.

  This is because those who had a secure attachment would have developed a more positive internal working model so would expect and develop more healthy friendships.
• Outline the influence of early attachment on child relationships.


  Indeed, one piece of research involved instructing school children to complete a questionnaire about their parent's parenting style (to identify their attachment type) as well as to vote which of their peers were involved in bullying behaviours (to assess their childhood relationships). 

  They found that those whose questionnaire responses indicated they had a secure attachment were very unlikely to be identified engaging in bullying behaviour.
• Outline the influence of early attachment on child relationships.

  Meanwhile, those whose questionnaire responses indicated they had an insecure-resistant attachment were likely to be identified by their peers as a bully.

  Finally, those whose questionnaire responses indicated they had an insecure-avoidant attachment were more likely to be identified as a victim of bullying, suggesting early attachments do influence childhood relationships.
• Outline the influence of early attachment on adult relationships.


  Research has found that adults who developed a secure attachment as an infant would develop healthier adult relationships than individuals who developed an insecure attachment as an infant.

  This is because those who had a secure attachment would have developed a more positive internal working model so would expect and develop more healthy adult relationships.
• Outline the influence of early attachment on adult relationships.


  Indeed, one piece of research involved asking participants to complete a 'love quiz' in a newspaper whereby they were asked about their current relationship, their general relationship experiences (e.g. the number of partners they have had) and their early infanthood experiences (to identify the type of attachment they formed with their caregiver).

  They found that those who were identified as having a secure attachment as an infant developed more stable and loving relationships and had the lowest rates of divorce.
• Outline the influence of early attachment on adult relationships.


  Meanwhile, those who were identified as having an insecure-resistant attachment developed relationships characterised by emotional highs and lows and tended to be quite obsessive and jealous.

  Finally, those identified as having an insecure-avoidant attachment tended to fear intimacy so would avoid romantic relationships. If they were in one, they would not be very affectionate. These had the highest rates of divorce.
• Evaluate the influence of early attachment on child relationships: relies on subjective data. 


  This is because the bullying study involved children being asked to talk about their parent's parenting style as well as which of their peers were more or less likely to engage in bullying behaviours. This Is a limitation because the research relies on the children being honest and having a realistic view of their parents and peers, which may not always be the case.
• Evaluate the influence of early attachment on child relationships: based on correlational data. 


  This is because the bullying study involved looking at whether there was a relationship between the children's infanthood attachment and their bullying behaviours at school. This Is a limitation because correlational research cannot establish cause and effect.
• Evaluate the influence of early attachment on child relationships: too deterministic. 


  This is because it is suggesting that if an infant developed an insecure attachment, they would grow up to be a bully or a victim of a bully. This is a limitation because this could have negative consequences e.g. on mothers who may be blamed for their child's bullying behaviours due to not being sensitive enough when they were an infant. It also fails to address how later experiences can affect a child's type of friendships
• Evaluate the influence of early attachment on child relationships: relied on subjective data. 


  This is because the love quiz study involved adults being asked about their relationship, prior love experiences and early infanthood experiences. This is a limitation because the research relies on the adults being honest and having a realistic view of their relationships. It also relies on them having an accurate recall of their infanthood, which may have been difficult as it was a long time ago.
• Evaluate the influence of early attachment on child relationships: based on correlational data. 


  This is because the love quiz study involved looking at whether there was a relationship between the adult's early infanthood attachment and their current love experiences. This is a limitation because correlational research cannot establish cause and effect. This means that it is their temperament rather than their attachment type that has influenced their adult relationships.
• Evaluate the influence of early attachment on child relationships: supporting evidence.


  Harlow’s research involving baby monkeys being raised in isolation with two surrogate mothers made out of wire or cloth found that the monkeys later grew up with social and emotional disturbances whereby they were less sociable, less likely to breed, and more aggressive. This is a strength of research into the influence of early attachment on later relationships because it shows how if an infant receives no stimulation or sensitivity from their caregiver.
• Evaluate the influence of early attachment on child relationships: difficult to generalise the findings to humans. 


  Also, monkeys in this study were regularly frightened with objects to see which surrogate mother they would run to. This could have caused trauma which could be the reason for their social disturbances rather than their poor early attachments. Therefore adds to the debate around the credibility of research into the influence of early attachment on later relationships.
• Evaluate the influence of early attachment on child relationships: too deterministic.


  This is because it is suggesting that if an infant developed an insecure attachment they would grow up to experience negative adult relationships. This is a limitation because this could have negative consequences e.g. on mothers who may be blamed for their child's failed relationships due to not being sensitive enough when they were an infant.