Does the early attachment style learned from childhood influenced the current attachment style?

Bowlby’s (1969, 1982) early hypothesis was that internal working models learned in early life provide essential information on the self, others, and relationships and guide interpersonal relationships throughout the lifespan. The attachment style learned in early experiences can serve as a prototype for friendships and romance throughout our life span (Johnson, 2017). Hazan and Shaver (1987) later translated the three infant attachment styles developed by Ainsworth et al. (1978) into three adult love attachment styles: secure, anxious, and avoidant. Besides childhood attachment patterns, Bowlby (1969, 1982) also proposed that the habitual interaction patterns that develop between adult partners are also fundamental in developing secure bonds. Hazan and Shaver (1993) pointed that childhood attachment patterns can change and be modified in adulthood by new interactions with a loved one.

However, Bowlby stated that the attachment pattern learned in the first few years of life has an important influence on peer attachment and romantic love attachment. He also noted that the attachment pattern is not permanent. It is relatively stable unless one is open to new experiences and flexible to adapt to their new environment by calibrating their internal working models against early environmental inputs. Researchers claimed that adult attachment styles are strongly correlated with one’s internal working models of self and others and early interactional experiences with primary caregivers (Collins & Read, 1990). Similar to most of the old researches, the samples of their studies were pre-assumed heterosexuals. Therefore, the results obtained from their studies cannot be generalized to the LGBT community. Feeney and Ridge’s studies suggested that lesbian and gay parental history does not strongly influence current attachment style. The studies suggested that the quality of close friendship attachment for same-sex couples may play a more significant influence in forming an adult love attachment style (Feeney & Ridge, 1998).

Written by Jenny Hsu, R.C.C

read more on JennyHsuanFangHsuCapstone.pdf (cityu.edu)