Lesson 13: Attachment Theory

Question 1

What is attachment theory?

Answer 1

• Parasocial relationships can be linked to attachment problems in childhood. Several characteristics of parasocial relationships are linked to attachment Eng. protest at loss of attachment figure is similar to separation protest seen in infants. People with childhood attachment problems form parasocial relationships to meet their need for attachment/affection.

Question 2

Bowlby’s Monotropic theory + parasocial relationships

Answer 2

• Some psychologists use Bowlby’s Monotropic theory and maternal deprivation theory to explain parasocial relationships. Bowlby noted that failure to form a Monotropic attachment before the critical period of two of age, or developing a poor attachment, had several long term impacts. People can become affectionless psychopaths, develop a poor internal working model, become delinquents etc.
• Bowlby’s theories predict that individuals who didn’t form a strong bond with a primary caregiver in early childhood will try to find an attachment substitute as adults, and engaging in parasocial relationships allows them to do this.

Question 3

Ainsworth’s strange situation + Parasocial relationships

Answer 3

• According to the description of the types of attachment described by Ainsworth, individuals who formed insecure-resistant relationships with their primary caregiver in early childhood will be more likely to form parasocial relationships, as they are too afraid of the criticism and rejection that are a part of real life relationships. As was demonstrated by Ainsworth’s findings in the strange situation study, insecure-resistant children are very clingy to their mothers and show less explorative behaviour than children of other attachment types, as they do not feel safe enough to leave their parents. They also show great distress when their mothers leave the room. According to Hazan and Shaved (1987), this behaviour translates into clingy and jealous behaviour in adulthood, making it difficult for people to develop committed and lasting romantic relationships. Intensive parasocial relationships allows people with an insecure resistant attachment style to engage in a fantasy about the perfect relationships,without the risk of rejection.

Question 4

Strengths of attachment theory

Answer 4

+ Cole and Leets (1999) found that individuals with an insecure-resistant attachment style were more likely to engage in parasocial relationships with their favourite TV personality, and insecure-avoidant individuals were the least likely to engage in parasocial relationships. This suggests there is a relationship between early attachment in childhood and adult parasocial relationships.

+ Research has found that 63% of stalkers experienced loss of a primary caregiver in childhood usually from parental separation. 50% reported childhood emotional, physical or sexual abuse from their primary caregivers. This supports the idea that disturbed attachment in childhood is related to extreme forms of parasocial relationships as an adult.

+ A study found that adults with insecure attachment types had positive attitudes to obsessive behaviours and stalking. Pathological attachment types tend to stalk which implies stalking is related to childhood attachment.

Question 5

Weaknesses of attachment theory

Answer 5

• Research studies into the link between infant attachment type and parasocial relationships rely on participants’ memories about their early lives in order to assess their infant attachment style. Such recollections are likely to be flawed because our memories of the past are not always accurate, meaning the studies are not valid.
• Parasocial relationships can be positive and not just about fulfilling attachment needs. For example, they allow a safe exploration of emotions.