Influence of Early Attachment Experiences

Question 1

Outline the internal working model for the influence of early attachment

Answer 1

Child having first relationship with primary attachment figure forms mental representation of this relationship
Internal working model acts as template for future relationships
Child with first relationship as loving one with reliable caregiver will assume that is norm for relationships & vice versa
They then seek out functional relationships & behave functionally within them, e.g. not being emotionally close & uninvolved (type A) or controlling & argumentative (type C)

Question 2

Outline the importance of relationships in later childhood for influencing later relationships

Answer 2

Securely attached infants = tend to form best quality childhood friendships
Insecurely attached infants = tend to have friendship difficulties

Myron-Wilson & Smith (1998) assessed attachment type & bullying involvement
Used standard questionnaires in 196 kids aged 7-11 from London
Secure kids were unlikely to be involved in bullying but type A were usually the victims to type C

Question 3

Outline the study into how attachment type & early attachment influence later relationships

Answer 3

Hazan & Shaver (1987) analysed 620 replies to ‘love quiz’ in local American newspaper
1. Assessed respondents current/most important relationship
2. Assessed general love xps, e.g. number of partners
3. Assessed attachment type by asking respondents to choose which of 3 statements described their feelings

Securely attached = 56% Insecure-avoidant = 25% Insecure-resistant = 19%
Secure respondents = More likely to have good & long-lasting romantic xps
Avoidant respondents = Tended to reveal jealousy & fear of intimacy

Question 4

Outline relationships in adulthood as a parent being influenced by earlier attachment

Answer 4

Internal working models affect kid’s ability to parent own children
We tend to base our parenting style on internal working model, thus attachment type tends to be passed down through generations

Bailey et al. (2007) considered attachments of 99 mums to their babies & to their own mums
Mum-baby attachment assessed using S.S. & mum-own-mum attachment using adult attachment interview
Majority of women had same attachment classification both to their babies & own mothers

Question 5

Evaluate the research into influence of attachment on childhood & adult relationships

Answer 5

LIMITATION - Evidence on continuity of attachment type is mixed
E.g. - Attachment type in infancy usually same as characterising person’s later relationships
But evidence for this is mixed - some studies like McCarthy support it, but some don’t:
Zimmerman (2000) assessed infant & adolescent attachment type to parents & found little correlation between quality of infant & quality adolescent attachment
Ex. - Result isn’t expected if internal working models were important in development

LIMITATION - Most studies have issues with validity
E.g. - Most studies don’t measure infant-parent attachment by S.S. But by interview/questionnaire, years after infancy
Thus, results rely on self-report techniques, which have limited validity as respondents must be honest & have realistic view of their own relationships
Ex. - Related problem = retrospective nature of assessment of infant attachment - looking back as adult to early relationship attachment figure lacks validity, it relies on accurate recollections

LIMITATION - Correlation isn’t causation
E.g. - In studies where attachment type associated with later relationships, it’s implied attachment type causes attachment
There are alternative environmental factors like temperament & parenting style
Ex. - Counter Bowlby’s view internal working model caused these later outcomes