Attachment - influence of early attachment on relationships Flashcards
What is the IWM?
Mental representation of attachments, formed in childhood by quality of first relationship with key caregiver
What does the continuity hypothesis state?
IWM will be reflected in later relationships as the blueprint for them and is carried into adulthood
What type of future relationships are considered?
- Friendships
- Romantic relationships
- Parenthood
How does a child’s first relationship affect future ones?
If first attachment is with reliable figure, infant will develop positive IWM and assume this for all relationships
If it’s negative, they’ll develop negative IWM and struggle to form secure relationships (or behave appropriately within them)
What would secure adults be like in relationships?
Functional relationship
What would insecure-avoidant adults be like in relationships?
More likely to report dislike for intimacy, doubtful of love and less forgiving
What would insecure-resistant adults be like in relationships?
Shorter relationships and emotional extremes of passion and jealousy
Friendships: What did Myron-Wilson and Smith (1998) find?
Questionnaire with 196 children
- Securely attached less likely to be involved in bullying
- Insecure-avoidant most likely to be victims
- Insecure-resistant most likely to be bullies
Friendships: What did Kerns (1994) find?
Securely attached form best quality childhood friendships and others have difficulties
Romantic relationships: Procedure of Hazan and Shaver (1987)
‘Love quiz’ published in American newspaper - 620 volunteer responses
1. current/most important relationship
2. general love experiences
3. attachment type
Romantic relationships: Findings of Hazan and Shaver (1987)
- 56% secure, 25% avoidant and 19% resistant
- Secure = long-lasting relationships
- Avoidant = jealousy + fear of intimacy
So attachment type reflected in relationships
Parenting: What do we find out about parenting styles?
Based on personal experiences and expectations of IWM
Tends to be passed through family generations
Parenting: How can Harlow (1958) be used to demonstrate this?
Non-human animals mirror the pattern too
Monkeys with no attachment killed their babies
