Influence of early attachment on later relationships: AO3

• Strength: Research support

  What? Supporting evidence

  Why? Fearon and Roisman - early attachment consistently predicts later attachment + disorganised attachment associated with mental disorder

  Why? Secure = advantages VS disorganised = disadvantages
• Counterpoint: Research support

  What? Not all evidence supports link

  Who? Regensburg study - no evidence of continuity

  Why? Unclear extent early attachment predicts later attachment
• Limitation: Validity issues w/ retrospective studies

  What? Early attachment assessed retrospectively

  Who? Asks participants about relationship with parents - validity issues: (1) social-desirability (2) unclear what's being assessed

  Why? Confounded measures
• Limitation: Confounding variables

  What? Confounding variables

  Who? Association between early attachment and later attachment may be confounded (genetically-influenced personality?

  Why? Unsure if it's early attachment or other factors