AO3

• McCarthy's (1999) research supports Bowlby’s internal working model by showing that early attachment influences adult relationships. In a study of 40 women who were assessed for attachment type in infancy, McCarthy found that securely attached individuals had better adult romantic relationships and friendships, while those with insecure attachments, particularly avoidant types, struggled in these areas. This demonstrates that early attachment experiences shape how individuals approach relationships later in life, providing strong evidence for the idea that the internal working model acts as a template for future relationships.
• What did McCarthy (1999) investigate in her study?

  • Impact of early attachment on adult relationships
  • Focused on romantic relationships and friendships
• How did McCarthy assess the impact of early attachment on relationships?

  By assessing attachment type of 40 women
• What were the findings of McCarthy’s study?

  • Securely attached individuals had better relationships
  • Insecurely attached individuals struggled in relationships
• How does McCarthy’s research support Bowlby’s internal working model?

  It shows early attachment acts as a relationship template
• Which attachment style was most associated with difficulties in adult relationships in McCarthy’s study?

  Insecure attachment, particularly avoidant style
• What does McCarthy's research suggest about the role of early attachment experiences?

  • Early attachment influences relationship approaches
  • Affects maintenance of relationships throughout life
• How does McCarthy’s study provide evidence for the importance of the internal working model?

  It shows early relationships shape adult relationship management
• A limitation of Hazan and Shaver’s study is the use of retrospective data, which can lead to acquiescence bias. Participants were asked to recall their early attachment experiences and relate them to their current relationships, but this reliance on memory can be inaccurate. People may unintentionally provide socially desirable responses or agree with statements to align with expectations, which undermines the validity of the results. This retrospective nature of the data makes it difficult to draw reliable conclusions about the link between early attachment and later relationships.
• A limitation of Hazan and Shaver's study is its deterministic nature, suggesting that early attachment directly shapes future relationships without considering the role of free will. The theory implies that individuals are bound to repeat attachment patterns from childhood, but this neglects the possibility of personal agency and change. People can overcome negative early experiences through self-awareness, therapy, or different relationship dynamics, breaking the cycle of attachment types. This reduces the theory's explanatory power, as it fails to account for the capacity of individuals to change their attachment behaviours, despite early influences.
• A limitation of Bowlby’s internal working model is that it overlooks the impact of personality traits on the quality of relationships. Personality types, particularly maladaptive traits like neuroticism and low self-esteem, may provide a better predictor of relationship outcomes. Research has shown that individuals high in neuroticism, characterized by emotional instability and anxiety, are more likely to experience relationship difficulties, regardless of their attachment history. Similarly, those with low self-esteem may struggle with intimacy or exhibit dependency in relationships. These personality traits can overshadow the influence of early attachment, suggesting that personality plays a crucial role in shaping relationship dynamics, and could be more predictive of relationship quality than attachment style alone.
• What is a limitation of Bowlby’s internal working model?

  It overlooks personality traits' impact
• How can personality traits be a better predictor of relationship quality than attachment style?

  They can lead to difficulties despite secure attachment
• What is neuroticism?

  A personality trait of emotional instability
• How does neuroticism affect relationships?

  It increases the likelihood of relationship difficulties
• How does low self-esteem affect relationships?

  It can lead to struggles with intimacy and dependency
• How does personality impact relationship dynamics?

  Maladaptive traits can influence behavior and outcomes
• What role does attachment style play in relationships?

  It influences how individuals approach relationships
• How do maladaptive personality traits affect attachment and relationships?

  They can lead to issues independent of attachment experiences
• Why might personality traits be more predictive of relationship quality than attachment style?

  They create immediate impacts on interactions