Relationships in Childhood

• Attachment type is associated with the quality of peer relationships in childhoud.

  Securely attached babies usually go on to form the best quality childhood friendships whereas insecurely attached babies tend to later have friendship difficulties (Kerns).
• Bullying behaviour can be predicted by attachment type. Wilson and Smith assessed attachment type and bullying involvement using standard questionnaires in 196 children aged 7-11 from London.

  • Secure children were very unlikely to be involued in bullying.
  • Insecure - avoidant children were likely to be victims.
  • Insecure - resistant children were likely to be the bullies.