influence of early attachments

• internal working model


  bowlby 1969

  • a schema, about how to relate to others formed by early experiences with the primary caregiver and the type of attachment formed
  • through this important early relationship with their primary caregiver
  • an infant learns what a relationship is, how it is formed, and patterns of behaviour about how individuals relate to one another in partnerships
• sensitive responsiveness

  • infant experiences this from caregiver, will likely form a secure attachment types and expect functional, reliable and loving relationship in the future
  • an infant who has poor early experiences in forming an attachment are more likely to behave inappropriately in future relationships or struggle to form any at all
• kerns 1994

  • found that securely attached infants are more inclined to have good quality peer relationships during childhood
  • whilst infants with insecure attachment types are likely to have difficulties with making or maintaining friendships
• scroufe 2005

  • conducted the Minnesota child–parent study and found that infants who were rated high in social competence during childhood were more empathetic, popular and felt less isolated
  • these results can be easily understood by considering the role of the internal working model
  • infants who are securely attached will have positive expectations that others who they relate to will be trustworthy and friendly in return
  • which provides the ideal platform for interacting with others during childhood.
• Hazan and Shaver 1987

  • Aim: the ‘Love Quiz’, designed to test the internal working model to assess if attachment type formed as an infant influences friendships and adult relationships
  • Procedure: The ‘Love Quiz’, comprising three sections, was published in a local American newspaper and received 620 volunteer responses
  • 1st: designed to assess the individuals’ most important relationship
  • 2nd: focused on ascertaining general experiences in love
  • 3rd: asked self-selecting participants about their feelings in relation to some statements
• findings of hazan and schaver

  • 56% respondents were classified as securely attached,
  • 25% with an insecure– avoidant attachment type
  • 19% as being insecure–resistant
  • A positive correlation was found between early attachment type and experiences in love with those reporting secure attachments in childhood, most likely to have loving and lasting romantic relationships
  • insecure avoidant: more likely to report feeling of dislike in relation to intimacy
  • insecure resistant: more likely to have shorter relationships, 6 years
• bailey 2007

  • assessed in the strange situation with 100 mothers and infants, while using interviews
  • lots of women had the same attachment type to their infant as to their own mother
  • the internal working model influencing parenting style
  • findings from Harlow’s study using non-human animals also mirror this pattern
  • Monkeys with poor or no attachments were seen to experience difficulties with parenting because of their early, formative experiences
• AO3 methodological issues

  • with assessing attachment type retrospectively
  • hazan and shaver, rely upon self-report from adult participants about their memories from infancy and childhood
  • Recollection from years gone by are likely to be impaired and any answers provided may lack accuracy due to deterioration which lowers the internal validity of findings
  • also could leave to social desirability bias