Influence of early attachment on later relationships

• Internal Working Model (IWM)

  According to Bowlby infants develop a schema based on their attachment to their primary caregiver. The quality of a child’s first attachment is crucial as they form a template for what a healthy relationship looks like. He suggests that a child who experiences a loving, reliable attachment with a caregiver is likely to internalize this as the “norm” for relationships. As a result, they will seek out functional, healthy relationships and engage in them appropriately.
• For instance, a child with a secure attachment will likely develop healthy relational behaviours, such as commitment and emotional intimacy.
• However, Bowlby also highlights that children who experience poor or inconsistent attachments, especially with primary caregivers, may carry those negative experiences into future relationships. This can manifest as difficulties in forming relationships or behaving inappropriately within them. Children with insecure-avoidant attachments may become distant or avoid intimacy, while those with insecure-resistant attachments may become overly dependent, controlling, or argumentative in their relationships.
• These patterns are carried into adulthood, potentially affecting friendships, romantic relationships, and even parenting. Essentially, Bowlby emphasizes the lasting impact of early attachment on an individual’s ability to form and maintain healthy relationships later in life.
• The continuity hypothesis suggest that future relationships will follow a similar pattern based in this template formed at childhood. Securely attached infants tend to go on to form better friendships and less likely to be involved in bullying. Insecure avoidant infants are likely to be victims of bullying. Insecure resistant children’s are most likely to be bullies.
• Hazan and Shaver (1987) conducted a study exploring the link between childhood attachment patterns and adult romantic relationships. They analyzed 620 responses to a “love quiz” published in a local newspaper. The quiz assessed participants’ most significant relationship, general love experiences, and attachment type, based on three descriptive statements. Findings revealed that 56% of respondents were securely attached, 25% were insecure-avoidant, and 19% were insecure-resistant.
• Securely attached individuals reported longer-lasting and more fulfilling relationships, while avoidant participants tended to experience jealousy and fear of intimacy. These results suggest that early attachment patterns influence romantic relationship behavior in adulthood.