early attachment on later relationships

• Internal working model: people base later relationships they have on the first relationship/attachment they had. People try to mirror their first attachment throughout life. This is a schema. Developed by Bowlby.
• Childhood friendships:

  • people who experienced secure attachments have better quality friendships
  • people who were insecurely attached were more likely to struggling making friends
  • Myron-Wilson & Smith (1998): insecure-resistant = bullies; insecure-avoidant = bullied
  • Kerns (1994): children who are securely attached have better friendships later on in life
• Romantic relationships:

  • people who were securely attached in childhood = have healthy relationships
  • Hazen & Shaver: love quiz - 620 ppts. Asked about their attachment type, relationship/most current one and how they view love. Most common attachment type = secure. Secure attachments = stable relationships; insecure = unstable relationships
• Parental relationships:

  • Bailey (2007): used the strange situation methodology. Looked at the attachment types of infants and the attachment type of their mother (interviewed mothers).
  • mothers & infants have the same attachment type.
• AO3:

  • research support: Fearon & Roisman (2017) - early attachments predict later relationships. BUT, other research shows that relationships can be developed - they are not just based on early attachments. Important but little validity.
  • contradictory evidence: Becker-stoll et al. Researched ppts from 1-16, when 16 they were assessed on their attachment. Was no continuity between early attachment & relationships. Invalid.
  • social desirability. Ppts were asked about their early attachments/relationship with parents. May lie to researchers, may not remember. Invalid.