The influence of early attachment on childhood-adult relationships

Question 1

what is the continuity hypothesis?

Answer 1

idea there is consistency between early emotional experiences and later relationships

Question 2

what does research indicate about childhood relationships?

Answer 2

there is continuity between early attachment styles & quality of childhood relationships

Question 3

what did Youngblade & Belsky find about childhood relationships?

Answer 3

3-5 year old securely attached children were more curious, empathetic, resilient & self-confident & got along better with other children

Question 4

give evaluations for research into childhood relationships

Answer 4

deterministic - perceiving the quality of later friendships as being caused solely by the quality of early attachments - other factors influential

Question 5

what does research indicate about adult relationships?

Answer 5

intergenerational continuity between adults attachment types & their children, incl children adopt parents’ styles.
continuity between early attachment styles & quality of later adult relationships

Question 6

what is the procedure for Hazan & Shaver’s study on adult relationships?

Answer 6

respondents to love quiz in newspaper were asked which of 3 descriptions best applied to their feelings about romantic relationships - relating to the 3 attachment types.
checklist of childhood relationships with parents.

Question 7

what did sample 1 and 2 comprise of in Hazan & Shaver’s study on adult relationships?

Answer 7

sample 1 - 205 men, 415 women, ages 14-82, 91% heterosexual, 42% married, 28% widowed/divorced
sample 2 - 108 students, answered additional items focusing on the self side of the mental model

Question 8

what are the findings of Hazan & Shaver’s study on adult relationships?

Answer 8

those securely attached described the most important relationship they had as happy, friendly & trusting - had longer lasting relationships
insecure-avoidant were doubtful about the existence of durability of romantic love - didn’t need partners to be happy

Question 9

what are the conclusions of Hazan & Shaver’s study on adult relationships?

Answer 9

the % of adults in different attachment types match those of children in Ainsworth’s strange situation studies
people with insecure attachment are vulnerable to loneliness
adults mental modes differ according to attachment styles - securely attached more positive about themselves & partners compared to others

Question 10

give evaluations for Hazan & Shaver’s study on adult relationships

Answer 10

attachment types identified by the strange situation only relate to the quality of the relationship with one person - so an adults choice of a paragraph describing their attachment style might only relate to their current relationship

Question 11

what did McCarthy research about attachment?

Answer 11

assessed quality of adult relationships of 40 women aged 25 - 44 years with childhood insecurity attachments - women with insecure-avoidant attachments had less successful adult relationships - those with insecure-resistant had problems forming non-romantic adult friendships - supporting internal working model

Question 12

evaluate explanations of early attachment on childhood - adult relations

Answer 12

Wood et al believes the quality of relationships result from the interaction of 2 people’s attachment styles - so insecurely attached people can have secure relationships if they are in relationships with securely attached people