6- the influence of early attachment on childhood and adult relationships (including role of the internal working model)

Influence of early attachment

The impact that early attachment experiences have on later social, emotional, and romantic relationships.

Internal working model

A mental representation of the self, others, and relationships formed through early attachment experiences.

Role of the internal working model

Guides expectations and behaviour in future relationships based on early caregiver interactions.

Continuity hypothesis

The idea that early attachment patterns continue to influence relationships throughout life.

Evaluation of continuity hypothesis

Supported by longitudinal research, but later experiences can alter relationship outcomes.

Secure attachment and childhood relationships

Securely attached children tend to have better peer relationships and social competence.

Evaluation of secure attachment in childhood

Supported by observational studies, but individual temperament may also play a role.

Insecure attachment and childhood relationships

Insecurely attached children often show social difficulties, aggression, or withdrawal.

Evaluation of insecure attachment in childhood

Correlational evidence cannot establish causation between attachment and later behaviour.

Secure attachment and adult relationships

Securely attached adults are more likely to have trusting, stable, and long-lasting romantic relationships.

Evaluation of secure attachment in adulthood

Supported by self-report studies, but responses may be biased or inaccurate.

Insecure attachment and adult relationships

Insecure attachment is linked to jealousy, fear of intimacy, and relationship instability.

Evaluation of insecure attachment in adulthood

Based largely on self-report data, which reduces reliability.

Hazan and Shaver (1987)

A study that identified attachment styles in adults and linked them to romantic relationships.

Findings of Hazan and Shaver

Securely attached adults reported happier and more trusting relationships.

Evaluation of Hazan and Shaver

Self-report methodology may suffer from social desirability bias.

Bailey et al. (2007)

A longitudinal study examining the link between parents’ attachment styles and their children’s attachment.

Findings of Bailey et al.

Found an association between insecure attachment in parents and insecure attachment in children.

Evaluation of Bailey et al.

Supports the internal working model, but other environmental factors may influence attachment.

Parenting style and attachment

Early attachment influences later parenting behaviour.

Evaluation of parenting style influence

Intergenerational patterns exist, but they are not deterministic.

Deterministic explanation

The idea that early experiences completely determine later outcomes.

Evaluation of determinism

Attachment research shows influences, not inevitability, reducing determinism.

Alternative explanations

Factors such as temperament, life events, and social context that may affect relationships.

Evaluation of alternative explanations

Weakens claims that early attachment alone determines later relationships.