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How Do Adults Perceive That Significant Others in Their Lives (I.E. People Who Are or Have Been Important to Them) Have Affected Their Development? Essay Example

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How Do Adults Perceive That Significant Others in Their Lives (I.E. People Who Are or Have Been Important to Them) Have Affected Their Development? Essay Example
TITLE: How do adults perceive that significant others in their lives (i.e. people who are or have been important to them) have affected their development?

ABSTRACT: This study focuses on the how early relationships with significant others (i.e. parental figures) affect later development and future adult relationships. In this case how our vertical relationships shape our horizontal adult relationships. A qualitative analysis was carried out on pre-existing, edited material, filmed interview and printed transcript. Thematic analysis did show that significant others may have impacted on the development of future relationships. Specifically on attachment theory

INTRODUCTION: Developmental psychology looks at whether our experiences during childhood has an affect on lasting relationships in adulthood. This study looks at one aspect in development, attachment theory. John Bowlby (1940) (cited in Wood et al. 2007) theory was that a 'child has a natural drive to form bonds with a primary care giver'. Bowlby believed that the important for a mother and child to form a ' healthy internal working model (expectations of how two people relate to one another, established during childhood and the affects on later adult relationships). Mary Ainsworth (1954) (cited in Wood et al. 2007) spent some time working with Bowlby researching 'maternal deprivation', ( lack of mother experiences in infancy) ant the affect this had on child development. And through this research Bowlby believed he found this had a significant affect on juvenile delinquency. Ainsworth went on to further her research and identified different types of attachment between mother and child, based on observed behaviour inn laboratory assessments Ainsworth identified three infant attachment classifications, (1) type A: insecure, anxious avoidant, (2) type B: secure, and (3) type C: insecure, anxious ambivalent. This led Mary Main (1985) (cited in Wood et al. 2007) to developing a way of

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