11. Influence of Early Attachment on Later Relationships

• 1. Influence of Early Attachments on Later Relationships

  Internal Working Model - Bowlby:

  • Template, future relationships.
  • First attachment crucial…
  • Loving relationship = seek out functional relationship in future.
  • Bad experiences = seek the same future (insecure-avoidant/resistant behaviours).
• 2. Influence of Early Attachments on Later Relationships

  Wilson + Smith (1998) - Childhood Relationships:

  • Att. type associated w/ quality of peer relationships.
  • Secure att. = best quality friendships.
  • Insecure att. = difficulties.
  • Assessed att. type + bullying, using standard questionnaires.
  • 196 children.
  • Secure att. = unlikely involved in bullying.
  • Insecure-avoidant = victims.
  • Insecure-resistant = bullies.
• 3. Influence of Early Attachments on Later Relationships

  Hazen + Shaver (1987) - Adult Relationships:

  • IWM = romantic and parental (own kids).
  • Analysed 620 replies to love quiz.
  • 3 sections: most important relationship, general love experience, attachment type.
  • 56% secure att. = good relationships.
  • 25% insecure-avoidant = jealousy/fear intimacy.
  • 19% insecure-resistant.
• 3a. Influence of Early Attachments on Later Relationships

  McCarthy (1999) - Adult Relationships:

  • 40 women, assessed as babies (longitudinal).
  • Secure att. = best adult friendships/relationships.
  • Insecure-avoidant = intimacy issues.
  • Insecure-resistant = problems maintaining friendships.
• 4. Influence of Early Attachments on Later Relationships

  IWM affects ability to parent own children; base parenting style on that.

  • Bailey et al. (2007), 99 mothers/babies.
  • Measured mothers’ att. to own mothers.
  • Measured mothers’ att. to babies.
  • Majority same att. to baby + their mother.
• Influence of Early Attachments on Later Relationships (Evaluation)

  Strength:

  P - supporting evidence.

  E - reviews conclude early att. consistently predicts later att. and att. to own children.

  E - relationship between early att. type + later development depends on att. type + aspect of development.

  L - secure-att. advantageous for future development, disorganised disadvantageous.
• Influence of Early Attachments on Later Relationships (Evaluation)

  Limitation:

  P - not all evidence supports existence of links between early att. + later development.

  E - Regensburg longitudinal study followed 43 individuals from 1-years-old.

  E - 16y/o, att. assessed using att. interview, no evidence of continuity.

  L - unclear extent the quality of early att. predicts later development; other factors important.
• Influence of Early Attachments on Later Relationships (Evaluation)

  Limitation:

  P - early att. assessed retrospectively.

  E - most research on link between early att. + later development not longitudinal; usually asks adolescent/adult participants questions on relationships w/ parents to identify att. type.

  E - questions = honesty/perception (social desirability and demand characteristics), hard to know whether early att. or adult att. being assessed.

  L - both points lower validity; measured of early att. cofounded w/ other factors.