the influence of early attachments on later relationships evaluation Flashcards
(p) one strength is that there are many studies showing a link between infant attachment type and development in adulthood
(e)
● researchers analysed 620 replies to a ‘love quiz’ and found that the respondents attachment type was reflected in their romantic relationships
● for example, secure respondents were the most likely to have good and longer lasting romantic relationships
● also, a review by other researchers concluded that infant attachment influenced development in many ways
● for example, disorganised attachment was most predictive of later mental development
(c)
● this is a strength if we can predict later mental disorders based on attachment type
● this allows us to intervene earlier and improve outcomes
(counter)
● however, some studies have found no evidence of the link between infant and later development
● this matters as it is not clear how strongly attachment influences later development
(p) an issue with several studies in this area is that they only indicate a correlation
(e)
● there are alternative explanations for the continuity that often exists between infant and later relationships
● for example, attachment in childhood influences and later development could be influenced by other factors
● such as personality
(c)
● this means that we can not establish that attachment in childhood causes positive / negative outcomes
● a third variable could influence both
(p) another limitation is internal validity issues with several studies
