Influence of Early Attachment

Question 1

Internal working model

Answer 1

First attachment is a blueprint for future relationships. Child forms a mental representation of their relationship with their primary caregiver

Question 2

Wilson & Smith (1998)

Answer 2

Securely attached babies form the best quality childhood friendships and least likely to be involved in bullying. Insecure-avoidant most likely to be victims, insecure-resistant most likely to be bullies

Question 3

Hazan & Shaver (1987)

Answer 3

Securely attached likely to have good long-lasting relationships, insecure-avoidant to fear intimacy, insecure-resistant short-lasting relationships

Question 4

Strength of influence of early attachment

Answer 4

• Research support (eg. Fearon & Roisman concluded early attachment consistently predicts later attachment and emotional wellbeing)

Question 5

Limitations of influence of early attachment

Answer 5

• Confounding variables (eg. Parenting style may influence attachment quality and later development so unsure it’s early attachment)
• Self-fulfilling prophecy (eg. People treated differently or feel doomed to be a certain way)
• Retrospective studies (eg. Most not assessed longitudinally, instead questions asked leading to bias)