The quality of the first attachment is crucial, as it powerfully affects the nature of future relationships. If the first experience is of a loving relationship, the baby will grow up to assume that is how relationships are meant to be and will seek out functional relationships without being uninvolved or too close (IA attachment) or controlling/argumentative (IR attachment).
Childhood relationships
Securely attached babies tend to form the best quality childhood friendships, whereas insecurely attached babies tend to find it difficult. Bullying behaviour can be predicted by attachment type. Myron-Wilson and Smith (1998) - they used standard questionnaires to study attachment type in 196 children in London. Securely attached - unlikely to be involved. IA - most likely to be victims of bullying. IR - most likely to be bullies.
Adult relationships
Romantic relationships and parental relationships with children. Gerard McCarthy (1999) studied 40adult women and found that those securely attached had the best quality adult friendships and romantic relationships.IR had particular problems with maintaining friendships and IA struggled with intimacy in romantic relationships. People tend to base parenting style on IWM, so attachment type is passed on. Heidi Bailey et al. (2007) - 99 mothers' attachment to their babies. The majority of women had the same attachment type as their mother and their children.
