Influence of early attachment on future relationships

• IERFR - Internal working model

  > The child forms a mental representation (schema) of their early attachment relationship with their primary caregiver

  > This acts as a model for what relationships are like and future relationships will mirror them

  > If a child is raised by a responsive caregiver they are likely to have a secure attachment and have successful relationships

  > However an unresponsive caregiver is likely to lead to an insecure attachment and have more problems forming relationships

  > This mental representation influences the nature of all their future relationships
• IWM on childhood relationships

  > If a child has a secure attachment to their primary caregiver, they are more likely to have better quality relationships with their peers

  > If they have an insecure attachment to their primary caregiver they are more likely to have difficulties making friends

  > Smith found this could predict bullying behaviour:

  • Insecure-avoidant attachments are usually the victim
  • Insecure-resistant are usually the bullies
• IWM on adult romantic relationships

  > Hazan and Shaver created a questionnaire (the love quiz)

  > 56 % were securely attached, they were most likely to have positive and long lasting relationships with partners they could trust

  > 25 % were seen as insecure-avoidant as children and these people reported feelings of jealousy and feared closeness

  > 19 % classified as insecure-resistant as children and these people fear abandonment and put too much pressure on their partner

  CONCLUSIONS - patterns of early attachments are reflected in adult romantic relationships
• IWM on relationships with own children

  > People base their parenting style on their internal working model, so attachment tends to be passed on through generations

  > Bailey found that mothers tended to have the same attachment style with their child as they did their own mother
• Influence of early attachment on future relationships AO3

  :) RTS conducted by harlow

  > Harlow separated monkeys from their mothers at birth and raised them in cages, they therefore had no early attachments

  > Harlow found that the monkey’s found it very difficult to form relationships with other monkeys when they were older, for example they had difficulty mating and females were inadequate mothers

  > supports the influence of early attachment on later relationships because it shows that having a negative early attachment can lead to negative relationships later with partners and own children
• Influence of early attachment on future relationships AO3

  :( Deterministic

  > States our behaviour is controlled and determined by early relationships

  > Neglects the role of free will and choice an individual has

  > Therefore, limiting the research into the influence of early attachment on later relationships.
• Influence of early attachments on future relationships AO3

  :( Based on retrospective data

  > As the participants often have to think back to their early attachments

  > This is a weakness because it relies on individuals accurately recalling their early attachment, however memory has been found to be inaccurate

  > Therefore, this lowers the internal validity of research in to the influence of early attachments on later relationships