The Influence of Early Attachments

Question 1

According to Bowlby’s continuity hypothesis…

Answer 1

the IWM determines our ability to form healthy relationships in our later life - romantic, friendships, and parenting

Question 2

IWM formed on secure attachments

Answer 2

• will look for healthy relationships in later life and be able to function adequately within them
• e.g. independent, secure when apart and in showing affection, not overly clingy or needy

Question 3

IWM formed on insecure attachments

Answer 3

• will have unhealthy/toxic relationships with unhealthy patterns of interactions/communications
• e.g. resistant have walls up, resist affection through fear of rejection

Question 4

who conducted the love quiz?

Answer 4

Hazan and Shaver (1987)

Question 5

what was the love quiz aim?

Answer 5

love quiz was developed to test the internal working model

Question 6

what was the love quiz method?

Answer 6

• placed the love quiz in an American newspaper, 620 responses (205 men, 415 women)

Question 7

what kind of questions did the love quiz include?

Answer 7

1) current attachment experiences
2) attachment history
3) attitudes towards love (to assess IWM)

Question 8

what are the love quiz results?

Answer 8

• found the prevalence of attachment types similar to those found in infancy
• 56% secure, 25% avoidant, 19% resistant
• found positive correlations between relationships endurance and securely attached adults

Question 9

love quiz conclusions

Answer 9

• supports Bowlbys monotropic theory
• primary attachment becomes IWM and can be used to predict adult behaviour attachments

Question 10

childhood friendships

Answer 10

1. Kerns ‘94; secure infants form the best quality child friendships , insecure end up with difficult friendships
2. Myron-Wilson and Smith: secure less likely to be involved in bullying age 7-11, IA- victims of bullying, IR- bullies

Question 11

adult friendships/relationships

Answer 11

1. McCarthy ‘99: 40 women who had been assessed for attachment type, secure had best relationships, IR had problems maintaining friends, IA had issues with intimacy
2. Hazan and Shaver- love quiz

Question 12

Parenting

Answer 12

1. Bailey ‘07 assessed 99 mothers on their own attachment styles during childhood then observed w/ their own kids, those w/ insecure likely to have insecure w/ their own kids

Question 13

strength of early attachment research

Answer 13

lots of research support
- e.g. kerns directly supports Bowlbys theory

Question 14

limitations of early attachment research

Answer 14

RESEARCH IS CORRELATIONAL
- therefore cause and effect cannot be established
RELIANCES ON RETROSPECTIVE CLASSIFICATIONS
- relies on adults answering questions about their early life and memories may be inaccurate
OVERLY DETERMINISTIC
- doesn’t take into account free will the ability to make choices to change future outcomes