Influence Of Childhood On Adult Relationships Flashcards
Describe what the relationship with our primary caregiver creates and how this affects our future relationships.
Relationship between primary caregiver and infant creates internal working model
IWM creates expectations for future relationships
Attachment style continues to adulthood
AO1 Bowlbys Attachment theory.
Why do we form attachments?
Attachments = instinctive process
Ensures safety, protection and survival
What is the continuity hypothesis?
This is where the attachment type we form in childhood carries on into adulthood
Eg. Securely attached infant will be likely to have long lasting romantic relationships when they’re older and have more friends
RESEARCH
Simpson (2007)
Longitudinal study Age 1: attachment style measured Age 6: peer interaction measured Age 16: close relationships described Overwhelming evidence to support continuity hypothesis
What are limitations of Simpsons research?
Appears very deterministic
Simpson argues that bad stuff happen in childhood, doesn’t mean it determines their future
Only conclude a trend = cannot infer cause and effect
Need a lab experiment as other factors effect adult relationships
RESEARCH
Zimmerman (2000)
When major life events occur such as parents death attachment types can change eg. Secure to insecure
AO1
Peer relations
What does Ainsworth argue about peer relations?
More important in adolescent emotional development
What do peer relations provide?
Attachment relationships and feedback about social behaviour
Emotional way station on the way to adulthood
Transfer dependency on parents to dependency on their peers
Opportunities for practising adult relationships
RESEARCH
Arnett (2007)
Found friendships with peers during childhood and adolescence give opportunities to develop the skills needed to form successful adult relationships
Eg how to resolve conflict and how to take on different roles
RESEARCH
Collins and VanDulmen (2006)
Relationships with peers give individuals the opportunity to learn behaviours and expectations involved in adult relationships
IDA
Gender differences
Richard and Scheider found girls report more intimacy/security in friendships than boys
Research over emphasises gender differences
Alphabias = over exaggerate sex differences
IDA
Culture bias
Limited samples in research so not representative of wider population
Lacks population validity
Also often looks at peer relationships in Westernised cultures
Unable to generalise to other cultures so lacks cultural relativism
