Influence Of Early Attachments

Question 1

Describe the influence of early attachments on childhood relationships.

Answer 1

Bowlby - emotionally secure infants w strong bonds in infancy would be emotionally secure trusting and socially confident in childhood. Internal working model forming in childhood through interaction w primary attachment figure. Infant learns what relationships are and how ppl in relationships should behave - acts as a ‘template’ which is then applies to future relationships and influences interactions that we have. I

Question 2

Describe 2 research studies into the influence of early attachments on childhood relationships.

Answer 2

1. Securely attached infants had the best quality childhood friendships. Insecurely attached had friendship difficulties.
2. 196 children age 7-11 in London assessed for attachment type and bullying involvement. Secure = less likely to be involved, insecure avoidant = victims and insecure resistant = bullies.

Question 3

Describe how early attachments can influence adult relationships.

Answer 3

Bowlby’s continuity hypothesis predicted emotionally secure infants w strong bonds would be emotionally secure trusting and socially confident children and this would continue into adulthood. The child’s internal working model is applied to future relationships and influences the interactions that we have. Therefore IWM could influence relationships with friends and romantic partners, relationships, own children and MH.

Question 4

Describe The love quiz procedure into the effect of early attachments on adult relationships.

Answer 4

• love quiz in local newspaper of small American town, 620 responses from men and women
• 3 sections, pps given descriptions of relationships and asked to indicate how well or poorly each description corresponded to how they felt in relationships. Also answered a variety of questions about romantic experiences. Also questions about relationship w parents to determine attachment type.

Question 5

Describe The love quiz findings into the effect of early attachments on adult relationships.

Answer 5

• positive correlation between attachment type and love experiences.
• Securely attached pps (56%) love experiences positive happy and trusting and relationships more enduring than IA and IR
• pos correlation between IWM and attachment type - secure = positive IWM

suggest continuity hypothesis and IWM are correct

Question 6

Describe 2 other studies into the influence of early attachments on adult relationships.

Answer 6

1. 40 adult women assessed when infants to determine attachment typed. Those assessed as secure had best adult friendships and romantic relationships. IR had problems maintaining friendships. IA struggled w intimacy.
2. 99 mothers - attachment to babies and own mothers using strange situation/adult attachment interview. Most had Same attachment to both.

Question 7

Give 3 criticisms of the influence of early attachments on relationships.

Answer 7

Challenging evidence - study assessed attachment in infancy and again 20 years later found weak correlations (0.1).

Only correlational not causal so can’t say it directly is caused by IWM.

influencing factors could be a part of it such as temperament - temperament hypothesis is alternative explanation saying some infants are born trusting and friendly so they become securely attached infants and securely attach later on.

Question 8

Give an issue of the influence of early attachments of relationships.

Answer 8

Determinist. Suggested that early experiences and attachments have a fixed effect on later relationships. So if IA, They are supposedly doomed to experience unhealthy relationships. Ignores idea of free will in our decisions.