Summary
Summary Influence of early attachment on later relationships 16 marker
A 16 marker on influence of early attachment on later relationships | Based on the AQA A-Level Year 1 Text Book
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Influence of early attachment on later relationshipsThe quality of a child's first attachment is crucial because it provides a template for all future
relationships, and how they are meant to be. This is because of the internal working model created
by the first attachment. A child who had a good first attachment will assume this is how all future
relationships are meant to be. Their future relationships will be more functional. The same is true
with children who have bad first attachments. They will struggle to form relationships and they mind
find themselves in toxic relationships. Securely attached babies tend to form the best quality
childhood friendships. Securely attached children are also less likely to be involved in bullying, whilst
insecure-avoidant children are most likely to be victims and insecure-resistant children are more
likely to be bullies. People tend to base their parenting style from their internal working model. Most
mothers have the same attachments to their babies as they did to their own mothers.
One study with Hazan and Shaver found that there is a link between attachment type and the quality
of adult romantic relationships. The researchers sent a questionnaire around in a newspaper, and
received 620 replies. They analysed three aspects of relationships. Current and most important
relationship, general love experiences and attachment type. The study found that secure
respondents were most likely to have good and longer-lasting relationships, whilst avoidant
respondents were jealous and feared intimacy.
A strength is that there is strong research. There are lots of studies showing a link between
attachment type and later development. Lots of studies also talk about bulling, success in romantic
relationships and parenting. One researcher said that infant attachment might influence
development in lots of ways. People with disorganised attachment were most predictive of later
mental disorders.
However a counterpoint is that not all the evidence supports the link. One longitudinal study found
that there was no evidence of continuity of attachment from ages 1 to 16 years. This means that it
isn't fully clear how strongly attachment influences later development.
A limitation is that there are validity issues with retrospective studies. Most of the studies about
attachment on later relationships use questionnaires or interviews, which rely on the participant
telling the truth. Another problem is that the attachment studies assume that the attachment type
has stayed the same since infancy. This means that the studies might not be valid.
Another limitation is that the studies might have confounding variables. Lots of the studies carry out
research into attachment and then follow up when the child gets older. However the studies might
have been affected by confounding variables, such as parenting style and personality might both
effect attachment and later development. This means that we can't be sure whether it is infant
attachment and not another factor that is influencing development.
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