Inlfuence of early attachment on later relationships

What theory did Bowlby propose?

• a baby first relationship with their primary attachment leads to a mental representation of this relationship called an internal working model

• the IWM acts as a template for future childhood and adult relationships

What is an internal working model?

a mental representation of a babies first relationship which forms the basis for future attachments

Attachment type is associated with the quality of ___?

Attachment type is associated with the quality of peer relationships in childhood

What study did Myron-Wilson and Smith do into the correlation between attachment type and bullying attachment?

• asked children ages 7-11 from London to complete questionnaires pertaining to the first attachments they formed and their involvement in bullying

• FOUND

  • secure children were unlikely to be involved in bullying

  • insecure avoidant children were most likely to be victims

  • insecure resistant children were most likely to be bullies

what 2 major adult experiences does the IWM affect?

romantic relationships and parental relationships with your own child

What study did Hazan and Shaver conduct into the IWMs affect on romantic relationships?

• studied 40 women who has been assessed as babies to find their attachment type

• FOUND

  • securely attached babies had the best adult friendships and romantic relationships

  • insecure resistant had problems maintaining friendships

  • insecure avoidant struggled with intimacy

What study did Bailey et Al conduct into the IWMs influence on parenting style?

• considered the attachments of 99 mothers to their babies and to their own mothers

• mother-baby attachment assessed using the strange situation

• mothers attachment to their own mother assessed using an adult attachment interview

FOUND

• majority of women has the same attachment classification both with their babies and their own mothers

What is meant if a baby is securely attached?

they have a strong bond with their caregiver - associated with sensitive and responsive caregiving

What is meant if a baby is insecurely attached?

unhealthy or weaker bond with caregiver

2 types of insects ure attachment:

• Insecure- avoidant

• Insecure- resistant

What is meant if a baby has an insecure-avoidant attachment?

little distress when separated from caregiver and doesn’t seek comfort upon reunion don’t seek comfort

What is meant if a baby has an insecure-resistant attachment?

infant is very distressed when separated from caregiver but resists comfort upon reunion- conflicting behaviours

What is a triple for research into attachment and later relationships?

+ supporting evidence (AO1 RESEARCH) concluded that early attachments consistently predict later attachments, emotional wellbeing and attachment to own children

• —> secure attachments convey advantaged for future development whilst disorganised attachment disadvantaged children

X not all ev supports the existence of libks between early attachment and later development

• Regensburg longitudinal study followed 43 individuals from 1 yrs + and assessed their attachment at 16 and no evidence of continuity

• SO it’s not clear to what extent early attachment really predicts later development. May be other important factors

X influence of early attachment is probalistic (Clarke), it just identifies an increased likelihood not definite consequence

we have the ability to intervene and help development BUT we may become too pessimistic and become a self fulfilling prophecy

What’s a double evaluation para for issues with research?

X- most research assessed early attachment retrospectively

causes 2 validity problems:

• relies on honesty and accurate perception from ppts

• hard to know whether what is being assessed is early attachment or in fact adult attachment

• measures may be confounded with other factors

X- existence of confounding variables

• associations between attachment quality and later development may be affected by confounding variables

• this means we can never be entirely sure that it is early attachment and not some other factor that is influencing later development