influence of attachment on later relationships

Internal working model: a mental representation of a person's…

relationship with their primary attachment figure

The internal working model affects relationships as it provides a…

template for future relationships

The quality of a child's first attachment is crucial as this template will powerfully affect the nature of their…

future relationships

The Continuity hypothesis:
strong attachment in infancy =
insecure attachment in infancy =

socially and emotionally competent, social and emotional difficulties

Hazan + Shaver (1987):
Aim:
To investigate internal working model and see if love in adulthood was directly related to…

attachment type as a child

Hazan + Shaver (1987):
Procedure:
Love quiz in local newspaper asked questions about

1. Current attachment type

2. Attachment history

3. Attitudes towards love
   620 responses received.
   How many were men and women?

205 men, 415 women

Hazan + Shaver (1987):
Findings:
Similar adult attachment type to infancy: 56% were…, 25% were… and 19% were…
There was a positive correlation between attachment type and…

secure, avoidant, resistant, love experiences

Hazan + Shaver (1987):
Conclusion:
Relationship between concept of love (internal working model) and later…
Securely attached adults tended to have a positive…

attachment types, internal working model

Issues with 'Love Quiz': RM = self report measure

1. People may…

2. Social…

3. They're…

4. Volunteer…

5. Lack of…

lie, desirability bias, retrospective, bias, validity

Retrospective means it's…

difficult to recall memories

AO3- Evaluation: strength

Research support

Hazan + Shaver (1987)- securely attached infancy= higher social competence, closer to friends at 16

Longer lasting romantic relationships

Therefore, supports that there’s a..

link

AO3- Evaluation: limitation

Studies rely on retrospective classification

Hazan + Shaver- questionnaires abt childhood

Social desirability bias (may lie) + flawed recollection

Therefore, studies=low in internal…

validity

AO3- Evaluation: limitation

Overly deterministic

H + S- early relationships = fixed effect on later relationships

Suggests if insecure infant, cant change later relationships

Simpson (2007)- not securely attached infants- happy adult relationships

Therefore, lacks predictive…

validity

AO3- Evaluation: limitation

Research=correlational>experimental

Other factors affect attachment + quality relationship e.g temperament

Not just IWM affecting later relationships, other factors

Therefore, cant claim early attachment type solely…

affects future relationships