Early attachments and adult relationships

Question 1

The inernal working model helps to explain adult relationships. Why

Answer 1

• if a child has a secure attachment to a sensitive caregiver, they are likely to see themselves as worthy of being loved-they are likely to form future secure relationships
• if a child has an insecure attachment with a caregiver who rejects them, they are likely to see themselves as unworthy of being loved-they are likely to form insecure relationships

Question 2

What does the continuity hypothesis state

Answer 2

-attachments in your childhood continue into your adulthood (internal working model)

Question 3

Hazan and Shaver (1987) influence of early attachments aim

Answer 3

-explore how early attachment can predict adult relationships

Question 4

Hazan and Shaver (1987) influence of early attachments procedure

Answer 4

• hazan and shaver conducted a ‘love quiz’ in a local newspaper
• the quiz had two parts
• the first part assessed the attachment type of each person with their parents
• the second part involved questions asking about their current beliefs about romantic love

Question 5

Hazan and Shaver (1987) influence of early attachments findings

Answer 5

• the first 620 results were analysed
• they found that there was a correlation between the type of childhood attachment and people’s later views on romantic love
• secure children were more likely to have happy and trustworthy relationships
• insecure-avoidant children ended up fearing intimacy
• insecure-resistant children were more likely to be worried that they weren’t loved in their relationship

Question 6

Hazan and Shaver (1987) influence of early attachments conclusion

Answer 6

-these findings support Bowlby’s internal working model because early attachments do influence adult relationships

Question 7

Hazan and Shaver (1987) influence of early attachments evaluation

Answer 7

• the quiz relied on people thinking back to their childhood-not always accurate
• study used volunteer sample-a certain type of person may be more likely to respond
• people may have answered untruthfully to show themselves in a better light
• study was repeated in 2003 and found similar results

Question 8

How did psychologists assess the relationship between early childhood attachments and later adult attachments

Answer 8

Psychologists came up with the adult attachment interview-how the childhood attachment is remembered-supports internal working model

Question 9

Main et al (1985)-adult attachment interview

Answer 9

• semi structured interview that involved a series of questions about childhood attachment relationships and how these were seen to influence later relationships
• interviewee asked to give 5 adjectives to explain their relationship with their parents
• asked to explain these adjectives
• asked questions about times they felt upset, if they ever felt rejected
• results classified into secure, dismissing, preoccupied, unresolved/disorganised
• categories of adult relationships could be predicted from people’s recall of their childhood attachments