Influence of early attachment on later relationships

influence of early attachment on childhood and adult relationships, including the role of the internal working model

Bowlby's Attachment theory suggests that early relationships with our caregivers provide the basis on how we will conduct our later adult relationships. This idea is termed the continuity hypothesis.

The attachment styles we learn as infants and young children become an internal working model for what we believe relationships should be like. This provides us with a template for how to behave in future relationships. The internal working model is similar to a schema as it shapes your expectations within relationships.

Therefore, the expectations we have of relationships that form in childhood will continue into adulthood

Bowlby's research suggests we develop an attachment style. An attachment style consists of two attitudes. First is an attitude about ourselves, termed self-esteem. Second is an attitude about other people - termed interpersonal trust. These two attitudes develop from our earliest interactions with caregivers. If our caregiver makes us feel highly valued and we feel that they are dependable and reliable we are likely to develop high self-esteem and trust other people. This is the basis of a secure attachment style. The absence of these conditions might result in the development of an insecure attachment style.

Ainsworth et al (1978) suggested there were 3 types of attachment caused by these differing interactions with caregivers

• Secure attachment (Type B) occurs when caregivers are responsive to the infant's needs. Infants trust their caregivers and are not afraid of being abandoned as they know that they are loved.

• Insecure/ avoidant attachment (Type A) occurs when caregivers are distant and do not want intimacy with the infant. Infants want to be close to the caregiver but learn that they are likely to be rejected

• Insecure/ resistant attachment (Type C) - occurs when caregivers are inconsistent and overbearing in their affection. Infants are anxious because they never know when and how the caregivers will respond

According to continuity hypothesis, a child who has a secure attachment style will develop an Internal Working Model that will lead to positive interactions with their friends and romantic partners, and better parenting skills. But a child with an insecure attachment style will develop an Internal Working Model that will lead to negative interactions with their friends and romantic partners and they will struggle with their parenting skills. In other words, the effects of early attachment styles will continue into adulthood

romantic relationships evaluation summary

• love quiz

• methodological issues

romantic relationships evaluation - love quiz

Support for the internal working model is provided by Hazan & Shaver who found that adult romantic styles were related to childhood attachment styles using a love quiz. This questionnaire consisted of 3 parts and asked Ps questions about current relationship experiences, attachment history & attitudes toward love in order to identify current and childhood attachment types. The researchers analysed responses from a cross section of the population who had volunteered to take part in the study.

Ps who were Secure in childhood rated their adult love experiences as happy & trusting & their relationships lasted longer than insecure types (10 years compared to 5 or 6 years). Ps who were Resistant in childhood experienced obsession, emotional highs & lows and extreme attraction & jealousy in their adult relationships. They worried that their partners would abandon them.

Ps who were Avoidant in childhood typically feared intimacy in romantic relationships and they believed that they did not need love to be happy.

These findings support the idea that early attachment experiences do continue into adulthood as continuity hypothesis proposes

romantic relationships evaluation - methodological issues

However, a criticism of the love quiz is that there are some methodological issues. The questionnaire uses retrospective data which means that participants have to think back many months or years and their memories may not be correct. Also, as it is a questionnaire Ps may be affected by social desirability bias. As romantic relationships & childhood experiences are personal topics, Ps may change their answers as they wish to be seen in the best light. Finally, as Ps volunteered the sample is likely to be biased with people who are happy in their relationships more likely to take part. This means that the findings may not represent the population and therefore the results can't be generalised Inerefore, as the supporting evidence for early attachment influencing later relationships is flawed, the continuity hypothesis may not actually be valid

childhood friendships evaluation summary

• Minnesota parent-child study

• lack of attachment in critical period

childhood friendships evaluation - Minnesota parent-child study

Supporting evidence for the Continuity hypothesis affecting friendships comes from the Minnesota parent-child study. This followed Ps from infancy to late adolescence & found continuity between early attachment & later social behaviour. For example, those classed as securely attached in infancy were rated higher in social competency in later childhood, were more popular and more empathetic. This therefore supports the theory that early attachment influences later childhood relationships.

childhood friendships evaluation - lack of attachment in critical period

The theory claims that a lack of attachment during the critical period would result in a lack of internal working model. Supporting evidence shows that children who have experienced severe neglect or frequent changes of caregiver develop attachment disorder. They have no preferred attachment figure, an inability to interact with others & problems relating to others at age 5. This therefore supports that negative experiences in early attachment can influence later childhood relationships in a negative way

parenting skills evaluation

Supporting evidence for the Continuity hypothesis shows that mothers brought up in care are likely to interact poorly with their own children. This is because they had no WM to provide a template for how to look after their children effectively. Harlow's study demonstrates this point as Harlow found that the motherless monkeys did not cradle their own offspring as they didn't know how This therefore supports that the theory that early attachment influences later parenting skills.

general evaluation summary

• deterministic

• reductionist

general evaluation - deterministic

A criticism is that the theory is deterministic as it implies that early experiences WILL determine future relationships. However, many children with insecure attachments can experience happy adult relationships. In addition, the deterministic nature of this theory also means that it can be considered to be socially sensitive. This is because it blames parents for any later relationship problems. Essentially, it argues poor parental interactions WILL cause later relationship issues.

general evaluation - reductionist

A criticism of the theory is that it is reductionist, as it focuses on the role of nurture. This is because it argues that the behaviour of the caregiver causes the infant attachment type and subsequent adult attachment type. Therefore, the theory does not consider the role of nature. The temperament hypothesis would argue that it is our innate temperament that determines how well we form relationships (regardless of parenting). This shows that the continuity hypothesis is too simple to explain adult relationships.