Lesson 12: The influence of early attachment on adult relationships

Question 1

How does Bowlby’s monotropic theory relate to adult relationships?

Answer 1

Monotropy allows the infant to use this relationship to form internal working model. Secure attachments cause positive internal working models. Continuity hypotheses says secure infants will continue to be socially and emotionally competent due to positive working model.

Question 2

Negatives of Bowlby’s monotropic theory relating to adult relationships.

Answer 2

1. Schaffer and Emerson, multiple attachments are more common, 13% only connected with one person.
2. Feminists, burden, responsibility
3. Tizard and Hodges, adopted children, critical period

Question 3

What was Hazan and Shaver (1987) procedure?

Answer 3

Designed a study to test the connection between a persons infant attachment style, internal working model and adult attachment style. Placed a ‘love quiz’ in Rocky Mountain news. 620 responses (205 male and 415 female)

Question 4

What kind of questions were rotund on the ‘Love Quiz’

Answer 4

1. Their relationships with their parents to identify their infant attachment style
2. Attitudes towards love to assess their internal working model
3. Current relationship experiences to determine their adult attachment style.

Question 5

What were Hazan and Shaver’s (1987) findings?

Answer 5

Adult and infant attachment styles were smilier. 56% secure, 25% avoidant, 19% resistant. Relationship between internal working model. Positive correlation between adult attachment and love experiences (secure=happy, trusting, friendly).

Question 6

How long did the love quiz show each type of relationships typically lasted due to attachment style?

Answer 6

Secure= 10 years, Avoidant=6 years, Resistant= 5 years.

Question 7

Negatives of Hazan and Shaver’s Love Quiz

Answer 7

1. Unreliable, other studies have not found the same results. Fraley found correlations between 0.5 to 1.
2. Correlational study rather than experimental, no cause and effect. Impossible to say infant determines adult attachment, possible third variable?
3. Relies on participants memories, unvalid
4. Volunteer sample