Influence Of Childhood On Adult Relationships

Question 1

Interactions with peers

Answer 1

Qualter and munn have shown how children develop a sense of their value through interactions with others which determines how they approach adult relationships.

Nangle et al said children’s friendships are training grounds for adult relationships. Having a friend to confide in promotes feelings of trust, acceptance and a sense of being understood which are important in later adult relationships.

Relationships in adolescence help to redirect interpersonal energy away from their parents towards a romantic partner and allow adolescence to experience an emotional and physical intimacy that is different from their relationships with their parents.

Question 2

Parent-child relationships

Answer 2

Shaver et al proposed that our experiences of love in adulthood is an integration of three behavioural systems acquired in infancy.

Attachment with our parents can affect later relationships because the behaviour of the infants primary attachment figure promotes an internal working model of relationships which will set the standards for later relationships.

The caregiving system is the knowledge of how one cares for others which is learned through the modelling behaviour of the primary attachment figure.

The sexuality system is also learnt through early attachment. Those that had an insecure avoidant attachment may see sex without love pleasurable.

Childhood abuse can affect adult relationships. Springer et al said Physical abuse in childhood has negative effects on adult psychological functioning. Increased rates of depression, anger, and anxiety.

Sexual abuse in childhood is associated with psychological impairment in adulthood. Many victims have difficulty forming healthy adult relationships.