Influence of early attachment on later relationships

Question 1

What is the role of the internal working model

Answer 1

Mental representation of our relationship with our primary caregiver
Representation is carried over into future relationships(continuity hypothesis)

Question 2

What is Bailey’s research focused on and what did he find

Answer 2

Research into early attachment and parents
Research on 99 mothers found that children’s attachment type(Strange situation) was the same as their own
Bailey also found that the mothers studied had the same attachment type as their own mothers

Question 3

Aim of Hazan and Shaver’s study

Answer 3

Examine the link between childhood attachment and adult relationships

Question 4

Hazan and Shaver’s procedure

Answer 4

620 replies from a 3 section love quiz questionnaire in a newspaper
Section 1 - Current/most significant relationship
Section 2 - General love experiences
Section 3 - Attachment type determined by choosing one of 3 statements

Question 5

Hazan and Shaver’s results

Answer 5

56% were secure
25% avoidant
19% resistant

Positive correlation between early attachment and love experiences
Securely attached were more likely to have longer/better romantic experiences
Avoidant participants show jealousy and fear of intimacy

Question 6

Hazan and Shaver’s conclusion

Answer 6

Early attachment affects future relationships based on internal working model

Question 7

A03’s for early attachment affecting later relationships

Answer 7

Methodological issues - Questionnaires/interviews are prone to social desirability

Research is correlational rather than experimental - Correlations aren’t strong meaning it’s difficult to establish a relationship. Also can’t establish cause and effect

Question 8

Issues and debates for influence of early attachment on later relationships

Answer 8

Socially sensitive - Kerns/Hazan and Shavers research suggests that certain attachment types will have difficulty/be unable to make friends/be in relationships