Outline research into the influence of early attachment on childhood

and/or adult relationships (6 marks).

Research on the early influence of attachment suggests the first attachment made is a
template for future relationships. The quality of a child’s first attachment is crucial as it
provides a template that will affect the nature of future relationships. This is due to the
Internal Working Model created by Bowlby. If a child’s first attachment is a good experience,
they will have the assumption of how all relationships are meant to be and are more likely
to have successful relationships later in life, however if it’s a bad experience they may
struggle to form relationships and not know how to act within them. Securely attached
infants are more likely to form the best childhood friendships. However, insecure avoidant
children are likely to be victims whilst insecure resistant are most likely to be bullies. Hazan
and Schaffer were researchers who analysed 650 replies to a love quiz printed in a
newspaper. The quiz assessed three aspects of a relationship which were the respondents’
current and most important relationship, general love experiences and attachment type.
They found that 56% of the participants were securely attached, 25% were insecure
avoidant and 19% were insecure resistant. This showed secure were most likely to have
longer lasting romantic relationships, but avoidant tended to be jealous. Research by Bailey
(2007) found that most women had the same attachment classification both to their babies
and their own mothers. Harlow’s monkeys showed a link between poor attachment and
later difficulties with parenting because they had a lack of an internal working mode.