Chapter 3.11 - Influence of early attachment on late relationships

Question 1

What are childhood relationships?

Answer 1

Affiliations with other people in childhood, including friends and classmates, and with adults such as teachers

Question 2

What are adult relationships?

Answer 2

Relationships the child goes on to have later in life as an adult
- friendship/working relationships
- romantic relations
- relations with their own children

Question 3

Describe the findings on attachment type about bullying

Answer 3

secure - unlikely to be involved
avoidant - victims
resistant - bullies

Question 4

What is a strength of the research into attachment and later relationships? (research support)

Answer 4

• Evidence reviews concluded that early attachment consistently predicts later attachment, emotional well-being and attachment to own children
• The strength of the relationship depends on both the attachment type and the aspect of later development
• Disorganised attachment is strongly associated with later mental disorder
• Secure attachment as a baby conveys advantages for future development
• Disorganised disadvantages children

Question 5

What is a counterpoint of the research into attachment and later relationships? (research support)

Answer 5

• Longitudinal study in 2008 followed 43 individuals from one year and at 16 years, were assessed using the adult attachment interview
• There was no evidence of continuity
  -Lack of clarity to what extent the quality of early attachment predicts later development
• Might be other factors

Question 6

What is a limitation of the research into attachment and later relationships? (validity issues)

Answer 6

• Most research assessed early attachment retrospectively and aren’t longitudinal studies
• Asking questions relies on the honesty and accurate perception of participants, when figuring out early attachment types
• Difficult to distinguish if early or adult attachment is being assessed
• Measures of early attachment may be confounded with other factors, making them meaningless

Question 7

What is another evaluation of the research into attachment and later relationships? (opportunity vs risk)

Answer 7

• By knowing someone’s attachment we can intervene and help their development
• We may become too pessimistic and create a self-fulfilling prophecy if we have an insecure attachment style

Question 7

What is a limitation of the research into attachment and later relationships? (confounding variables)

Answer 7

• Studies that assess attachment from infancy means that the assessment is valid
• However associations between attachment quality and later development may be affected by confounding variables e.g. parenting style and genetically influenced personalities
• Not entirely sure that early attachment is influencing later development