Influence on Childhood Flashcards
What did Bowlby state in 1969.
(Importance of attachments)
Stated that attachments had evolved in order to promote the survival of the species.
What did Belsky state in 1999.
(Importance of attachments)
Stated that attachment behaviour would not have evolved if its function was only to protect the individual child and thereby promote survival, because survival is not the goal of natural selection.
Unless survival enhanced the reproductive fitness of the human infant, there would not have been enough pressure for attachment behaviour to evolve.
Human attachment evolved because the protection and survival it promoted increases the chances of successful reproduction of those who maintained proximity to their PCG.
What does the continuity hypothesis suggest?
(Continuity hypothesis)
Suggests that attachments at childhood continue into you adult life, (internal working model).
According to Bowlby, infants construct an IWM based on what? What does this model influence?
(Continuity hypothesis)
Rules and expectations concerning their relationships and attachments to other people.
This model influences the individual’s subsequent relationships including those formed in adulthood.
Outline Mullis et al’s study from 1999.
(Supports the idea of continuity from early attachments and the IWM)
Supports the idea of continuity from early attachments and the IWM.
This is because they reported that late childhood attachments made to peers reflect those made to parents in infancy.
This suggests that the role of an attachment ‘blueprint’ is a key influencer to future attachments.
It also highlights how crucial it is to form positive infant attachments with PCGs, as these determine those made in adulthood.
Laible (2000) backed this up by finding that in late childhood individuals transfer attachment behaviours learned in childhood to social situations and peer groups.
Outline Myron-Wilson and Smith’s study from 1999.
(Bullying)
(Supports the idea of continuity from early attachments and the IWM)
Supports the idea of continuity from early attachments and the IWM.
This is because they assessed 196 children aged 7-11 in London, finding that:
Infants with secure attachments were unlikely to be involved in bullying.
Infants with avoidant attachments were most likely to be victims of bullying.
Infants with resistant attachments were most likely to be bullies.
This suggests that early infant attachments can dictate the types of behaviours formed during childhood, and those expressed actions towards others.
When did Hazan and Shaver complete their ‘love quiz’ study?
1987.
What was the aim of Hazan and Shaver’s 1987 study?
To explore the possibility that attachment theory offers a perspective on adult romantic love and to create a framework for understanding love, loneliness and grief at different points of the life cycle.
What was the general procedure of Hazan and Shaver’s 1987 study?
Respondents to a “love quiz” in a local newspaper were asked which of three descriptions best applied to their inner feelings about romantic relationships.
They related to secure, avoidant, and resistant types.
PPs also completed a checklist describing childhood relationships with parents, relating to the same attachment types.
What findings were discovered about those with secure attachments?
(Hazan and Shaver 1987)
(Findings)
They were described the most important love relationship they ever had as “happy, friendly and trusting”.
Secure PPs had longer lasting relationships and if they married tended not to divorce.
Securely attached PPs expressed belief in lasting love.
They found others trustworthy and had confidence in their self as likeable.
What findings were discovered about those with avoidant attachments?
(Hazan and Shaver 1987)
(Findings)
Insecure avoidant PPs were more doubtful about the existence or durability of romantic love.
They also maintained they didn’t need love partners to be happy.
They also expressed more self-doubt compared with both other types, but compared with the resistant PPs didn’t repress feelings of security.
What findings were discovered about those with resistant attachments?
(Hazan and Shaver 1987)
(Findings)
Resistant PPs were the most vulnerable to loneliness.
Outline 2 conclusions made from Hazan and Shaver’s 1987 study.
(Hazan and Shaver 1987)
(Conclusions)
The percentage of adults in the different attachment types matched those of children in Ainsworth’s SS studies.
The correlation between adults’ attachment style and their memories of parenting styles were correlated with the degree of sensitivity shown by mothers.
Adults’ mental models differ according to attachment styles.
Outline 4 evaluative points from Hazan and Shaver’s 1987 study.
PPs may conform to SDB, if they feel that their true answers would lead to judgement (same for demand characteristics).
Childhood relationships could be potentially triggering and traumatic; psychological harm.
Only 3 categories to choose from - doesn’t allow for individual differences and their temperament.
Just because you are in the category that best suits you, it doesn’t necessarily mean that all the conclusions about that attachment type apply to you.
Disregarded the 4th attachment type (disorganised) identified by Main and Solomon.
Childhood data is retrospective, thus memories could be contaminated.
Specific sample: certain local area, for certain age groups, for certain newspaper readers.
Correlational not causational.
Extraneous variables are not considered e.g. death, previous relationships, family abuse, and divorce.
The data concerning relationships was collected many years later - the data is fragile. This means what was recalled may not be very accurate. This challenges the study’s validity.
Hazan and Shaver assumed that attachment types are consistent and determines the style of love.
Outline Shaver and Hazan’s subsequent research from 1993.
Found that 22% of their adult sample changed their attachment style over a 12 month period.
These changes often occurred as a result of relationship experiences e.g. infidelity.
Thus attachment style can influence relationships, but actual experiences of relationships can also influence attachment style.
This challenges Bowlby’s idea of continuity, as well as Hazan and Shaver’s initial study.
