Influence of early attachments on later relationships

• Outline a study which has shown a link between romantic relationships and early attachment

  Hazan and Shaver (1987):

  1. Current/most important relationship
  2. Attitudes towards love (assessment of IWM)
  3. Current and childhood attachments
• Findings of Hazan and Schaffers study

  A positive correlation between attachment type and experiences of love

  • Secure attachment= Romantic relationships lasted on average 10 years
  • insecure-resistant= 5 years
  • insecure-avoidant= 6 years
• Describe the Minnesota parent-child study (2005)


  Followed ptpts from infancy to late adolescence

  Securely attached infants- highest rated for social competence, less isolated and more popular in later childhood.
• Describe the study carried out by Myron-Wilson & Smith (1998)

  Assessed children aged between 7 and 11 from London using questionnaires

  Found secure children= less likely to be involved in bullying

  Insecure-resistant= more likely to be bullies

  Insecure-avoidant= more likely to be victims of bullying
• Outline a study which has shown a link between poor parenting and early attachment

  Bailey et al. (2007):

  Assessed 99 mothers with 1-year old baby on quality of attachment using Strange Situation

  Also assessed quality of attachment of mothers with their own mothers when they were a child using an interview
• What were the findings of Bailey et al.'s study?

  Mothers who had poor attachments with their own mothers= more likely to have poor attachments with their own child
• Abundance of research support study

  McCarthy (1999):

  Wanted to see if there was a relationship between an infant's attachment type and their adult relationships. They found that securely attached individuals has the best friendships and relationships. This increases the validity and reliability
• Abundance of research support COUNTER

  Zimmerman et al (2000):
• Limitations of Hazan and Shavers research

  1. Volunteer sample - results may not be representative
  2. Social desirability bias - not accurate or objective answers
  3. Correlational nature of the study means they can't infer cause and effect relationships