The Influence of early attachment on later attachment -A-Level Psychology
Attachment and later relationships:
Internal working model:
- Is like a schema
-Bolwby suggested that a child having their first relationship with their primary attachment figure forms a mental representation of this relationship.
-The internal working model acts as a template for future relationships.
-those who have a reliable caregiver will use this as an expectation for future relationships
-used to predict the behaviour of others in the future
Hazan and Shaver:
-designed a study to test the internal working model
-placed a ‘love quiz’ in a newspaper
-it asked about attachment history and current attachment experiences to determine childhood attachment types
-it also asked about attitudes to love
-620 responses ,205 men,415 women
Findings:
-the self report of attachment history found that the prevalence of attachment types were similar to those in infancy
-56% secure
-25% avoidant
-19% resistant
– there was a positive correlation between attachment type and love experiences.
-securely attached adults described their love experiences as happy and trusting and their relationships were more enduring
-securely attached individuals had a positive internal working model
Behaviours influenced by the internal working model
Childhood friendships-in reference to the Minnesota child-parent study individuals who were classed as securely attached had high social competence later in childhood e.g more popular,less isolated,more empathetic.This can be explained by the IWM as securely attached infants have higher expectations that others are friendly so would find it easier to form relationships.
Poor parenting-Harlow’s research demonstrated this.Those who had poor attachment had later difficulties in parenting.The lack of an IWM means that individuals lack a reference point to consequently form relationships with others.
Romantic relationships-Hazan and Shaver suggested that there is a link between early attachment and later relationships,Individuals who were securely attached had longer lasting relationships.
Mental health-lack of attachment during the critical period would result in a lack of an IWM .Attachment disorder has been recognised and classed as a psychiatric condition in the DSM.
Evaluation:
An alternative explanations-Feeney(1999) argued that adult attachment patterns may be properties of the relationship rather than the individual.He says that adult relationships are guided by a self verification process-the tendency to seek others who conform your expectations of relationships.Therefore ,it is the adult secure relationship that is causing the adult attachment type rather than vice versa.
Overly determinist-Hazan and Shaver’s research suggest that very early experiences have a fixed effect on later adult relationships.This is not always the case some adults have loving relationships despite not being securely attached.
Early attachment refers to the emotional bond that develops between an infant and their primary caregiver, typically their mother or father, during the first few years of life. This bond is formed through repeated interactions and experiences between the infant and caregiver, such as feeding, cuddling, and soothing
The quality of early attachment has been found to have a significant impact on an individual’s later attachment style, which refers to the way they approach and interact in close relationships in adulthood. Securely attached infants tend to develop secure attachment styles, characterized by trust, empathy, and emotional intimacy, while insecurely attached infants may develop anxious or avoidant attachment styles, characterized by fear, avoidance, or emotional distance.
One of the most influential theories of attachment is John Bowlby’s “attachment theory,” which posits that infants have an innate drive to seek proximity and comfort from a caregiver, and that disruptions in early attachment can lead to negative consequences for emotional and social development. Mary Ainsworth’s “strange situation” experiment also helped identify different attachment styles, based on an infant’s response to a brief separation from their caregiver.
Researchers typically use self-report questionnaires or observational methods to measure attachment styles in adulthood. One commonly used questionnaire is the “Attachment Style Questionnaire,” which asks individuals to rate how much they agree with statements about their beliefs and behaviors in close relationships. Observational methods may involve observing how individuals interact with romantic partners or close friends, and coding these interactions for signs of secure or insecure attachment behaviors.
Understanding attachment styles can have important implications for mental health and well-being, as well as for relationship satisfaction and success. For example, individuals with insecure attachment styles may benefit from psychotherapy or relationship counseling to address underlying fears and anxieties, while individuals with secure attachment styles may be better equipped to handle stress and conflict in close relationships. Additionally, research has shown that secure attachment styles can be fostered through positive experiences in close relationships, such as supportive and responsive caregiving or romantic partners who exhibit trust and emotional intimacy.
Understanding attachment styles can be useful for A-Level students in their personal lives, as they navigate close relationships with family members, friends, and romantic partners. By recognizing their own attachment style, students can develop a greater awareness of their own beliefs and behaviors in relationships, and may be better able to communicate their needs and boundaries. Additionally, students may be able to use their knowledge of attachment to identify healthy and supportive relationships, and to avoid relationships that may be detrimental to their emotional and mental health.
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