influence of early attachment on later relationships

• The quality of a child's first attachment is crucial because it provides a template that will affect the nature of their future relationships. This is due to the influence of the internal working model created by that first attachment
• A child whose first experience is of a loving relationship with a reliable attachment figure assumes this is how all relationships are meant to be. They will then seek out functional relationships and behave functionally within them
• A child with bad experiences of their first attachment will bring these experiences to bear on later relationships. This may mean they struggle to form relationships in the first place to they do not behave appropriately in them
• Securely attached children are less likely to be involved in bullying. Insecure avoidant attached children are most likely to be victims. Insecure resistant attached children are most likely to be bullies.
• Hazen and Shaver the love quiz experiment procedure: The researchers analysed 620 replies to a 'love quiz' printed in an American local newspaper. The quiz assessed 3 different aspects of relationships which were current and most important relationship, general love experiences, attachment type
• Hazen and Shaver love quiz experiment findings and conclusions: The respondents' attachment type was reflected in their romantic relationships. Secure respondents were the most likely to have goof and longer lasting romantic relationships. Insecure avoidant respondents tend to be jealous and fear intimacy.
• One strength of early attachment on later relationships is strong research support. There are many studies showing a link between infant attachment type and success in romantic relationships and parenting. A review by Fearon and Roisman concluded that infant attachment influenced development in may ways. Disorganised attachment was most predictive. This means that insecure attachment appears to convey a disadvantage for children's development
• One limitation of Hazen and Shaver experiment is validity issues. Most studies assess participants’ attachment type in adulthood using questionnaires or interviews. These rely on honest answers. A further problem is that these studies assess attachment in late childhood or adulthood and assume that it has remained the same since infancy. This means that the measures of attachment may not be valid
• One limitation is possible confounding variables. Some studies do make assessments of infant attachment and follow up children, assessing their later development. However, these studies may be affected by confounding variables. For example, paretning style and personality might affect both attachment and later development. This means that we can never be entirely sure that it is infant attachment and not some other factor that is influencing later development