influence of early attachment on
later relationships
ao1
internal working model and continuity hypotheses
internal working model - a template of what attachment bonds should
look/be like based upon the first attachment formed
the quality of early attachment (specifically to the primary caregiver) is crucial as
this template determines the quality of future relationships
internal working model is a schema for how all relationships work including
beliefs about how loveable you are, how trustworthy others are and how well you
can expect to be treated
this theory predicts the behaviour of an individual in later relationships (including
adult relationships) will be based on the attachment style they developed in early
childhood
this is called the continuity hypothesis
influence of early attachment on later relationships 1
, a child with a secure attachment will assume that this is how relationships are
meant to be
type b (secure) - intimacy, emotionally open, trusting, caring,
positive
a child with a bad experience of their first attachment will be influenced
negatively in the future. they may struggle to form relationships or behave
inappropriately within them
type a (insecure avoidant)- emotionally distant,
fear/uncomfortable with intimacy, independence
type c (insecure resistant)- jealousy, anxious, angry,
argumentative, sulky, guarding behaviours, possessive
relationships in later childhood
attachment type is associated with the quality of peer relationships in childhood
securely attached infants tend to go on to form the best quality childhood
friendships whereas those who are insecurely attached have friendship
difficulties (kerns 1994)
myron-wilson and smith (1998)
used questionnaires (self report - reliant of memory of early years) to assess
attachment type and bullying involvement in 196 london children aged 7-11
years (sdb? questions validity)
findings:
securely attached = unlikely to be involved in bullying
supports kerns - shows they have successful social relationships
insecure-avoidant = most likely to be victims
insecure-resistant = most likely to be bullies
romantic relationships in adulthood
influence of early attachment on later relationships 2
later relationships
ao1
internal working model and continuity hypotheses
internal working model - a template of what attachment bonds should
look/be like based upon the first attachment formed
the quality of early attachment (specifically to the primary caregiver) is crucial as
this template determines the quality of future relationships
internal working model is a schema for how all relationships work including
beliefs about how loveable you are, how trustworthy others are and how well you
can expect to be treated
this theory predicts the behaviour of an individual in later relationships (including
adult relationships) will be based on the attachment style they developed in early
childhood
this is called the continuity hypothesis
influence of early attachment on later relationships 1
, a child with a secure attachment will assume that this is how relationships are
meant to be
type b (secure) - intimacy, emotionally open, trusting, caring,
positive
a child with a bad experience of their first attachment will be influenced
negatively in the future. they may struggle to form relationships or behave
inappropriately within them
type a (insecure avoidant)- emotionally distant,
fear/uncomfortable with intimacy, independence
type c (insecure resistant)- jealousy, anxious, angry,
argumentative, sulky, guarding behaviours, possessive
relationships in later childhood
attachment type is associated with the quality of peer relationships in childhood
securely attached infants tend to go on to form the best quality childhood
friendships whereas those who are insecurely attached have friendship
difficulties (kerns 1994)
myron-wilson and smith (1998)
used questionnaires (self report - reliant of memory of early years) to assess
attachment type and bullying involvement in 196 london children aged 7-11
years (sdb? questions validity)
findings:
securely attached = unlikely to be involved in bullying
supports kerns - shows they have successful social relationships
insecure-avoidant = most likely to be victims
insecure-resistant = most likely to be bullies
romantic relationships in adulthood
influence of early attachment on later relationships 2
