A - influence of early attachment on relationships (AO3)

Question 1

What’s a strength of the continuity hypothesis as an aspect of the research on early attachment’s influence on relationships? - Supportive empirical evidence

Answer 1

===> Bailey et al (2007) assessed 99 mother and infants in strange situation and post-experiment interview to find attachment type. Majority shared with infant and mother showing its passed on through generations. However, interview could have introduced social desirability bias into findings, reducing validity

Question 2

What’s a limitation of the continuity hypothesis as an aspect of the research on early attachment’s influence on relationships? - Overly deterministic

Answer 2

===> Suggest infant with insecure attachment will be restricted to unsatisfying life experiences and that there are no alternatives. Research suggests insecure attachment types can form healthy relationships with a stable partner and therapy so this challenges this aspect of the research and reduces validity

Question 3

What’s a limitation of the Love Quiz study? - Methodological issues

Answer 3

===> Adult ppts. had to recall info about their childhood and recollection is likely to be impaired. Lowers internal validity of results and lacks credibility

Question 4

What’s a limitation of the Love Quiz study? - Research is correlational

Answer 4

===> Many studies have found associations between attachment type and later relationship quality but correlation isn’t causation. Other factors could play a role. Fraley et al (2002) found correlations aren’t even strong - as low as +.10 to highest of +.50. Variability implies inconsistency in results and difficulty in drawing definite conclusions