Influence of early attachment

• It is argued that the quality of a child's first attachment is crucial because from this, the internal working model
• A child who experiences a loving relationship with a reliable caregiver will tend to assume that this is how relationships are meant to be. They will seek out functional relationships and behave in a functional manner. The reverse is said for a child who experiences a bad first relationship
• Attachment is associated with the quality of peer relationships (friendship) in childhood. Securely attached children tend to go onto from quality friendships whereas insecurely attached children have friendship difficulties
• Hazan & Shaver (1978) looked at an association between attachment and adult relationships. They analysed over 620 replies to a love quiz placed in a local American newspaper. The quiz had three sections
• What sampling methods did Hazan & Shaver use?

  -Volunteer sample
• What did Hazan & Shaver assess?

  1.Assessed respondent's current or most important adult relationship

  2.Assessed general love experiences such as number of partners

  3.Assessed attachment type by asking respondents to chose which three statements best described their feelings
• What did Hazan & Shaver assess?

  1.Assessed respondent's current or most important adult relationship

  2.Assessed general love experiences such as number of partners

  3.Assessed attachment type by asking respondents to chose which three statements best described their feelings
• Hazan and Shavers Findings-

  -56% were identified as securely attached

  -25% were identified as insecure avoidant

  -19% were identified as insecure resistant

  Those with secure attachments were most likely to have good and longer lasting romantic experiences. The avoidant tended to reveal journey and a fear of intimacy
• Further research findings of Hazan and Shaver -

  -McCarthy found that attachment type can influence peer relationships, it was found that:

  >Insecure resistant children were more likely to be bullies

  >Securely attached children are unlikely to be victims or perpetrators of bullying

  >Insecure avoidant children were most likely to be the victim of bullies
• Strength - Belski (1999)

  -Belski found that women with secure childhood attachment experienced less conflict with their husbands on topics such as time spent together and division of household chores

  -Also stated that securely attached individuals are more committed to relationships and felt great love for their partners

  -Therefore, supporting Hazan & Shavers description of securely attached adult relationships
• Strength-Simpson (2007)

  -Simpson found that those participants who were securely attached as infants were rated as having higher social competence as children

  -Children who were socially competent at ages 6/8 were found to have closer friends at 16.

  -Finally, those who were closer to friends at 16 were more expressive and emotionally attached to their romantic partners in early adulthood

  -Supports because attachment type you formed when a child is reflected in adult due to internal working model
• Strength-McCarthy (1999)

  -They assessed quality of relationship in 40 women aged 25-44 years with insecure attachment in childhood

  -Found that women who were insecure avoidant had less successful relationships in adulthood

  -Whilst those who were insecure resistant in childhood had problems in adult life in forming friendships

  -Supports idea of internal working model as it shows childhood relationships are reflected in adult relationship due to internal working model
• Weakness- Zimmerman (2000)

  -Found that childhood attachment type was not a predictor of adult relationships as was argued that life events often alter attachment types

  -Rutter found people who had experienced problematic relationships with their parents could go onto achieve secure, safe and happy adult relationship

  -Therefore, contradicting Hazan & Shaver because shows attachment types are not as fixed as suggested
• Weakness- Fenney

  -Argues that adult attachment patterns may be properties of relationship rather than individual

  -Therefore, arguing that adult relationship causes attachment type and isn't influenced by childhood

  -This is supported by Kirkpatrick and Hazan, who found that relationship break-ups were associated with a shift from secure to insecure attachment

  -Therefore, suggests attachment types are not as stable as H &S suggested
• Weakness- Wood (2003)

  -Believes the quality of a relationship results from interaction of 2 people in it and their attachment styles

  -Therefore, insecurely attached people can have securely attached relationships as adults if they are in a relationship with a person who was securely attached as a child

  -This shows that attachment types are not as fixed as H & S said