Attachment - Impact on later relationships and childhood

Question 1

Internal working model

Answer 1

• From Bowlby’s attachment theory
• Internal: inside your mind
• Working: Used when relating to others
  -Model: Template for how to relate to others

Question 2

Types of attachemnt

Answer 2

• Secure attachment: Caregiver is sensitive and responsive
• Insecure avoidant: Caregiver is unresponsive to needs
• Insecure resistant: Caregiver is inconsistent in behaviour

Question 3

Impact on childhood friendships

Answer 3

• Kerns:
• Securely attached children: Better quality friendships
• Insecurely attached children: Difficulties making + maintaining friends
• Secure children: More cooperative, better at regulating emotions

-Myron-Wilson + Smith:
-Avoidant children more likely to be victims of bullying
-Resistant children more likely to be bullies
- Secure children developed positive IWM for future + less likely to be involved in bullying

Question 4

Influence on adult romantic relationships

Answer 4

• Hazan + Shaver “Love Quiz”
• Secure adults: longer-lasting relationships, believe love endures
  Insecure avoidant: fear closeness, believe love doesn’t last
  Insecure resistant: fall in love easily, needy for attention

Question 5

Effects on parenting

Answer 5

• Harlow’s monkeys:
• Monkeys without maternal care struggled to parent their own offspring
• Bailey et al human study:
• Mothers with poor attachment to their own mothers more likely to have poor attachment with their babies

Question 6

Limitations of research

Answer 6

• Cannot establish cause + effect
• Correlational studies lack control over other variables
• Subjectivity in self-report data
• Social desirability bias in responses
• Retrospective nature of data collection

Question 7

Can the IWM change?

Answer 7

• Research on Romanian orphans - Rutter:
• Early adoption and supportive families can reverse negative effects
• Case of Czech twin boys - Koluchova:
  Overcame severe early deprivation with later care

Question 8

Implications for personal development

Answer 8

• Early attachment is influential but not deterministic
• Awareness of your attachment style can aid personal growth
• Positive relationships can help modify IWM
• Therapy and self-reflection can support change

Question 9

Conclusion

Answer 9

• Early attachments shape but don’t define us
• Relationships have the power to heal and transform
• Understanding attachment can improve self-awareness and relationships