The influence of early attachment of child and adult relationships

what is the continuity hypothesis?

the quality of early attachments would determine the quality of later attachments (positive correlation b/w early and late attachments)

what is the internal working model?

where your primary attachment relationship acts as a model for later relationships, leading to the formation of a schema of how to relate to other people

insecure avoidant attachment relationships?

cannot rely of caregiver

→ trouble w/ intimacy within friendships + romantic relationships

→ more likely to be victim of bullying

insecure resistant attachment relationships?

inconsistent care w/ caregiver

→ trouble maintaining friendships and romantic relationships

→ more likely to be bullies

secure attachment relationships?

reliable caregiver so assume this is how all relationships meant to be

→ more likely to form best quality of relationships

→ not likely to be involved in bullying

Hazan and Shaver when?

1987

aim of hazan and shaver?

to investigate if early attachment types would predict the quality of adult romantic relationships and the internal working model.

procedure of Hazan and Shaver? + details

respondents to love quiz in local newspaper picked which three descriptions best applied to their inner feelings about romantic relationships

• 100 questions

• completed checklist describing their early

• sample 1 - 420 people between 14 and 82 years

• sample 2 - 108 students who answered additional items about loneliness

data findings- secure attachment?

56% sample of 1 and 2 securely attached

• ‘happy, friendly, trusting’ relationship

• long lasting relationships, divorce rare

• belief in long lasting lover

data findings- insecure avoidant attachment?

23% of sample 1 and 25% of sample 2

• didn’t need love partners to be happy

• vulnerable to loneliness

data findings- insecure resistant attachment?

19% sample 1, 20% sample 2

• clingy and needy in relationships, needed reassurance

• most vulnerable to loneliness

insecurely attached findings?

• doubtful about existence and durability of romantic love

• relationships less easy

• fall out of love easily more likely to get divorced

Hazan and Shaver conclusions?

• most frequent type is secure attachment

• mothers most sensitive to their needs were likely to be classed as securely attached

• securely attached more optimistic than insecure

behaviours influenced by internal working model? (x4)

• childhood friendships

• poor parenting

• romantic relationships

• mental health (attachment disorder)