Influence Of Early Attachment On Relationships

Question 1

What was Bowlby’s opinions on attachment and later relationships?

Answer 1

• attachment behaviour is held to characterise human beings from the cradle to grave
• nature of relationship with caregiver forms template for all future relationships
• reference continuity hypothesis and internal working model

Question 2

Our internal working model consists of stable, consistent beliefs about:

Answer 2

• The Self : are we lovable or not?
• Others : are they trustworthy or not?
• Relationships : what are our expectations about how relationships work?

Question 3

According to research findings, secure attachment in infancy leads to the following characteristics in childhood :

Answer 3

• closer friendships with peers
• more reciprocal friendships
• greater emotional and social competence in adolescence

Question 4

What roles to type a and type c play in schools

Answer 4

• Both have friendship difficulties
• Type A/insecure avoidant are more likely to be bullied
• Type C/insecure resistant are more likely to be the bully

Question 5

What type of adult relationships to those with attachment type A generally have?

Answer 5

• Problems with intimacy
• invests little in emotional relationships
• unwilling to share feelings

Question 6

What type of adult relationships to those with attachment type B generally have?

Answer 6

• empathetic
• able to create meaningful relationships
• high self esteem

Question 7

What type of adult relationships to those with attachment type C generally have?

Answer 7

• Avoids closeness
• worries that partner doesn’t love them
• distraught when relationships end
• jealous

Question 8

What does the research generally tell us about adult relationships?

Answer 8

Ainsworth supported the view that the caregivers behaviour towards them in infancy is the main influence on what attachment type the child will develop

Question 9

Summarise evaluations of the influence of early attachment on childhood and adult relationships

Answer 9

• research for child - Kerns - securely attached babies tend to go on to form the best quality childhood relationships
• research for adult - Hazen & Shaver - Love Quiz
• too deterministic - suggests people can’t decide for themselves
• reductionist - focuses on parental influences not social influences
• practical applications - foster care and adoption