Conclusion: Relationships formed with parents during childhood affect relationships in adulthood.
Evaluation: The study was based on self-report data which is subjective and therefore may be unreliable. The data was also retrospective, further reducing the reliability of the study. Also, because the study relied on people replying to a newspaper article, the sample might not be representative of the whole population.
Attachment type and adult romantic relationships:
ANXIOUS/RESISTANT (Type C)
· As adults these have the most short-term romantic relationships, and are more likely to have shorter courtship prior to marriage. (Senchak and Leonard, 1992).
· They are likely to be particularly upset by and ultimately to reject unsupportive partners (Collins and Fenney, 2004).
ANXIOUS/AVOIDANT (Type A)
· As adults these are least likely to enter into a romantic relationship and most likely to say they have never been in love (Campbell et al, 2005).
· They are likely to be particularly upset by unsupportive partners, labelling them unreliable (Collins and Fenney, 2004).
· Kirkpatrick and Davis (1994) found that these types (who expect lower commitment) can be attracted to anxious/resistant types (who expect to invest highly in a relationship).
· A stable relationship is most likely with a resistant-type female and an avoidant-type male the partner (Morgan and Shaver, 1999).
SECURE (Type B)
· Banse (2004) found that a marriage is happiest if both partners are type B.
· Unlikely to be affected when their partners appeared unsupportive.
Childhood interaction with peers:
As children mature their peers become more important in healthy social and emotional development. According to Parker and Asher (1987) friendships between peers are `training grounds` for adult relationships
· Hartup (1989) – Lonely children are more likely to become adults with lower self-esteem who are less capable of maintaining intimate relationships.
· Ostrov and Collins (2007) – The kind of problems experienced during middle childhood predict the kind of problems experienced as adults.
Some children have unavoidable life experiences (e.g. chronic illness) which prevent them developing relationships with peers, e.g. due to hospitalisation and extended school absences.
· Thompson et al (2008) – Childhood cancer survivors tend to report fewer adult relationships and greater distress with relationship breakdown.
· Dolgin et al (1999) – Report lower rates of marriage and cohabitation and older age at first romantic relationship and marriage.
The strength and quality of childhood friendships, and when they form, make a big difference to early romantic relationships.
· Zimmer-Gembeck et al (2004) – Those forming early, strong relationships at age 11 were more likely to enter into earlier romantic relationships
The type of behaviour experienced as children and the behaviour used in relationships, in particular bullying and teasing, influence later relationships.
· Connolly et al (2000) – Children who are bullies are more likely to use aggressive behaviour in adult relationships.
· Ledley et al (2006) – Those teased or bullied as children found it harder to engage in intimacy and closeness as adults and had trust problems in their relationships.
Adolescent Experiences And Later Adult Relationships:
Parent-child relationships
Adolescence can be seen as a period during which young people reshape the internal working models of childhood relationships into new models that will shape adult relationships.
Relationships within the family may act as a `training ground` for later adult relationships.
· Crockett and Randall (2006) – Longitudinal research shows a relationship between family relationships at this time and the quality of adult romantic relationships.
The quality of parent-adolescent conflict resolution is related to style of conflict resolution in romantic relationships.
· Reese-Weber and Bartle-Haring (1998) – If adolescents adopted an attacking style of conflict resolution with their parents, this was more likely to be adopted in later romantic relationships.
Research suggests that the quality of relationships with parents during adolescence is related to the quality of later romantic relationships. Fieldman et al (1998) for example found that adolescent reports of family interaction patterns predicted happiness and distress in romantic relationships in early adulthood.
· Conger et al (2000) – Having the experience of supportive, involved parents during adolescence was associated with greater commitment and satisfaction at age 20.
· Linder and Collins (2005) – Individuals with a history of hostile interactions with parents during adolescence were more likely to experience romantic relationships violence as young adults.
Adolescent Interaction With Peers:
Peer groups assume greater importance during adolescence.
· Kirchler et al (1991) – Not developing peer relationships and staying very close to family can mean problems in establishing independence and in forming relationships when adults.
Relationship skills learned in the `best friend` relationship during adolescence can be transferred to later romantic relationships.
· Meeus et al (2007) – Their longitudinal study suggests that commitment to a best friend is a predictor of commitment to an intimate partner later in life.
· Crockett and Randall (2006) – Peer relationships appear to have little impact on adult romantic relationships, with family relationships having a greater influence.
Experiences with peers appear to be able both to increase the likelihood and to moderate the likelihood of later violent behaviour.
-
Connolly et al (2000) – suggest that adolescents identified as bullies are more likely to report using physical violence with a partner later in life.
· Linder and Collins (2005) – Individuals who had higher quality relationships at 16 reported lower levels of violence in subsequent romantic relationships at 21.