The influence of early attachment

Infant learns about relationships through experience. 'Operal' model of self + attachment partner. Used ro preduct behaviour of others in future.

'Love Quiz', asked about current attachement experiences + attachment history to identify current + childhood attachment types. Also asked about attituted towards love - assessment of internal working model.

620 responses, 205 men, 415 women.

Attachment styles similar to infancy ones - 56% secure, 25% avoidant, 19% resistant.

Positive correlation b/ween attachment type + love experiences.

Childhood friendships

Poor parenting

Romantic relationships

Mental health

Research correlational

Relies on retrospective classification - likely to be flawed b/c memories of past not always accurate.

Overly determinist - suggests early experience fixed effect later - not always the case.

Alternative explanation - Feeney (1999) - adult attachment patters may be properties of relationship rather than individual. Alternative - adults guded by self-verification process therefore adult secure relationship causes adult attachment type.