3.4.2.4 Continuity Hypothesis

• What does the Continuity Hypothesis suggest?

  Early bonding shapes future relationships
• What is the relationship between early attachments and adult relationships according to the Continuity Hypothesis?

  • Early attachments influence future relationship styles
  • Secure attachments lead to healthier adult relationships
  • Insecure attachments may result in difficulties in adult relationships
• What is the concept of Monotropy in Bowlby's theory?

  • Infants develop a main attachment
  • Usually with one caregiver, often the mother
  • This caregiver serves as a secure base
• If someone was securely attached as a child, what type of relationships might they form as an adult?

  Trusting and healthy relationships
• What are the key components of Bowlby's Monotropic Theory?

  • Monotropy: Main attachment with one caregiver
  • Critical Period: 6 months to 3 years for attachment
  • Internal Working Model: Influences future relationships
  • Social Releasers: Signals to attract caregiver attention
• What does the Continuity Hypothesis suggest?

  Early attachment styles influence future relationships
• What did Hazan and Shaver (1987) find about securely attached adults?

  They had more stable and trusting relationships
• What does the Continuity Hypothesis argue?

  Early attachments influence future relationships
• How do early attachments affect future relationships according to the Continuity Hypothesis?


  They significantly impact how you relate to others
• Who developed the Monotropic Theory related to the Continuity Hypothesis?

  John Bowlby
• What do social releasers refer to in Bowlby's Monotropic Theory?

  Signals like crying or smiling to attract attention
• What type of studies support the Continuity Hypothesis?

  Longitudinal studies
• How might a securely attached infant behave in adult relationships?

  They likely feel confident and trusting
• How do Hazan and Shaver's studies support the Continuity Hypothesis?

  They show securely attached children have healthier relationships
• What is the Continuity Hypothesis?

  A theory linking early attachment to adult relationships
• What does Bowlby's Monotropic Theory explain?

  How infants form attachments to caregivers
• What might someone with an insecure attachment in childhood struggle with in adulthood?

  Trust or intimacy in adult connections
• What are the weaknesses of the Continuity Hypothesis?

  • Oversimplifies complex human relationships
  • Doesn't account for changes or interventions
  • Assumes a singular caregiver
  • Contrasts with theories of relationship evolution
• What is the critical period for forming attachments according to Bowlby?

  6 months to 3 years
• How does the Continuity Hypothesis contrast with other theories of relationships?

  It emphasizes stability, while others highlight evolution
• What year did Sroufe et al conduct their study?

  2005
• What did Sroufe et al (2005) discover about securely attached infants?

  They developed healthier relationships in adulthood
• How can understanding the Continuity Hypothesis help in therapy?

  It provides insights into relationship patterns
• What are the strengths of the Continuity Hypothesis?

  • Supported by empirical evidence
  • Shows securely attached children have healthier adult relationships
  • Explains recurring patterns in relationship behavior
  • Provides a framework for understanding attachment impacts
• Why is the assumption of a singular caregiver a weakness of the Continuity Hypothesis?

  It may not apply to diverse family structures
• What role do early experiences with caregivers play according to the studies mentioned?

  They shape future relationship patterns
• Who conducted a study in 1987 related to attachment styles?

  Hazan and Shaver
• What does empirical evidence refer to in the context of the Continuity Hypothesis?

  Data from studies supporting the hypothesis
• What are the findings of Hazan and Shaver (1987) and Sroufe et al (2005) regarding attachment styles?

  • Hazan and Shaver (1987):
  • Securely attached children had stable adult relationships
  • Sroufe et al (2005):
  • Securely attached infants formed healthier adult relationships
• What is an internal working model in the context of the Continuity Hypothesis?

  A framework guiding interactions based on early relationships
• How do early attachments affect adult relationships according to the Continuity Hypothesis?

  The security experienced as a child shapes adult relationships
• How does the Continuity Hypothesis connect early caregiver relationships to future interactions?

  Early connections set the tone for future relationships
• What is the Internal Working Model in Bowlby's theory?

  It shapes expectations and behavior in future relationships