Influence of early attachment

Question 1

What is an internal working model?

Answer 1

Our mental representations of what an attachment should look like.

Question 2

Why is a baby’s first attachment crucial?

Answer 2

If they have a loving relationship with parents, then they will go on to seek functional relationships.

Question 3

What is attachment type associated with?

Answer 3

The quality of peer relationships in childhood.

Question 4

What type of attachment form the best childhood friendships?

Answer 4

Secure

Question 5

What attachment type are the most likely to be victims of bullying?

Answer 5

Insecure-avoidant

Question 6

What attachment type are most likely to be bullies?

Answer 6

Insecure-resistant

Question 7

Bailey’s study - 99 mothers

Answer 7

• Studied 99 mothers and their attachment to their own mothers and their babies.
• Mother-baby attachment was assessed using the strange situation.
• Mother’s attachment to their mother was assessed using an adult interview.

Question 8

Strength - Research support

Answer 8

• Other studies have concluded that early attachments predict later attachments.
• How strong early attachments are depends on the attachment type and the aspect of later development.
• E.g = disorganised attachments are strongly associated with later mental disorders.

Question 9

Limitation - Validity issues with retrospective studies

Answer 9

• Most research on the link between early attachment and later development are not longitudinal.
• They don’t reassess the person to see the long term effects.
• Instead they ask people questions about their relationships which causes validity issues.

Question 10

Limitation - confounding variables

Answer 10

• Some infant attachment studies have validity issues because associations between attachment quality and later development may be affected by confounding variables.
• E.g = parenting style may affect attachment quality and later development.