This is the inquiry-based essay, below the essay you will find assignments #1,#2, and #3 which were given and completed before the final draft and assignment #4 which was completed after. It would be preferable to read the first 3 assignments before the final draft and assignment #4, as they served an important contribution to the drafting process which lead to the final result. Reading in this order would allow you to explore and get a clearer understanding of the reason behind the choices which I made for my final draft.

Correlation Between Adult Relationships and Attachment Styles Developed During Childhood

Introduction:

   Many might agree that human romantic relationships are a fundamental component of a healthy and balanced lifestyle. However, not all individuals have the knowledge or capability to indulge in relationships which would lead them to desired outcomes. In order to raise the odds of achieving a successful relationship, I believe it is crucial to understand the psychology behind factors which might have an influence on an individual’s decision-making process of choosing their significant other. Some of the crucial factors might even go so back such as their childhood. Even though the time between adulthood and childhood seems distant when we talk about romantic relationships most of the time that is not the case. According to a research paper called “Adult attachment Theory and Research” written by R. Chris Fraley he states, “There is now an increasing amount of research that suggests that adult romantic relationships function in ways that are similar to infant-caregiver relationships, with some noteworthy exceptions, of course”. In order to understand the correlation between the two, it is essential to understand the attachment styles which formulate from infant-caregiver relationships.

The Origin of Attachment Styles and Following Research:

      Attachment styles came to be from a theory developed by a psychologist John Bowlby and expanded on by other researchers. He believed that the distressed reactions which were observed in infants were not just a defense mechanism to suppress emotional discomfort, but rather traits attained from natural selection in the sense that the infants were hopeless and unable to protect themselves, so they relied on their caregiver for survival. Bowlby’s discovery has sparked interest in many researchers to explore the accuracy of his theory, especially his colleague Mary Ainsworth. Her study and research were important because it evaluated the differences and observed patterns between, the way in which children behaved towards their caregivers when placed in certain situations. Her experiment called “strange situation” included separating and reuniting 12-month infants with their parents. During this experiment she and her followers observed changes in infant behavior and concluded with three specific attachment behavior patterns which they found to be most common. The first attachment behavior(style) was called secure. In this pattern of behavior, the infants “become upset when the parent leaves the room, but, when he or she returns, they actively seek the parent and are easily comforted by him or her”. In the research it states to be about 60% of the participants. According to the research the other 40% of the participants are classified to have either anxious-resistant attachment style or avoidant. “(about 20% or less) are ill-at-ease initially, and, upon separation, become extremely distressed. Importantly, when reunited with their parents, these children have a difficult time being soothed, and often exhibit conflicting behaviors that suggest they want to be comforted, but that they also want to “punish” the parent for leaving. These children are often called anxious-resistant. The third pattern of attachment that Ainsworth and her colleagues documented is called avoidant. Avoidant children (about 20%) don’t appear too distressed by the separation, and, upon reunion, actively avoid seeking contact with their parent, sometimes turning their attention to play objects on the laboratory floor”. (Fraley).

    Ainsworth was not the only one who brought clarification to Bowlby’s theory but also researchers such as Hazan and Shaver expanded his theory to prove their belief that the emotional bond which Bowlby discussed to be found in infant-caregiver relationships corresponded with romantic relationships formed in adulthood. “Hazan and Shaver noted that the relationship between infants and caregivers and the relationship between adult romantic partners share the following features: both feel safe when the other is nearby and responsive, both engage in close, intimate, bodily contact, both feel insecure when the other is inaccessible, both share discoveries with one another, both play with one another’s facial features and exhibit a mutual fascination and preoccupation with one another, both engage in “baby talk”. On the basis of these parallels, Hazan and Shaver argued that adult romantic relationships, like infant-caregiver relationships, are attachments, and that romantic love is a property of the attachment behavioral system” (Fraley). Even though Shaver and Hazan’s research does not provide enough evidence to affirm the correlation, there are enough numerous studies which support the legitimacy of the claimed correlation. For example, research conducted by Fraley and Shaver observed the behavior produced based on the separation of an adult from their partner. “Naturalistic research on adults separating from their partners at an airport demonstrated that behaviors indicative of attachment-related protest and caregiving were evident, and that the regulation of these behaviors was associated with attachment style” (Fraley).

Making Choices and Attachment Styles:

     It cannot be denied that attachment styles play a significant role in understanding adult relationships. Not only is it important to be able to identify the existence of the correlation but as well as acknowledge the presence of attachment styles in choice making and its outcomes. When forming a romantic connection, the outcome of a relationship will depend a lot on what kind of attachment style individuals will meet. According to an article written by a clinical psychologist and the director of research and education for the Glendon Association, Lisa Firestone “Our style of attachment affects everything from our partner selection to how well our relationships progress to, sadly, how they end. That is why recognizing our attachment pattern can help us understand our strengths and vulnerabilities in a relationship”. She follows four different attachment styles found in couples. The first one which she lists is a secure attachment. This attachment style is usually viewed as the most satisfactory in romantic relationships because the partner in this type of connection feels most secure and could depend on their significant other for comfort just like seen with infant-parent relationship in Ainsworth’s research. She proceeds to state “Securely attached couples don’t tend to engage in what my father, psychologist Robert Firestone, describes as a “Fantasy Bond,” an illusion of connection that provides a false sense of safety. In a fantasy bond, a couple foregoes real acts of love for a more routine, emotionally cut-off form of relating.” Second style would be anxious preoccupied attachment, in a relationship with this attachment behavior the partner usually has anxiety and fear towards their significant other leaving, this kind of feelings tend to spark possessive behavior and controlling Ness. Firestone mentions this as being the opposite of secure attachment relationships, “Unlike securely attached couples, people with an anxious attachment tend to be desperate to form a fantasy bond. Instead of feeling real love or trust toward their partner, they often feel emotional hunger”. The third type of attachment is called dismissive-avoidant attachment, in this type of relationship the partner tries to isolate themselves and be more of an introvert. They do not seem to find importance in providing love and care for their partner. Firestone continues by saying “Pseudo-independence is an illusion, as every human being needs connection. Nevertheless, people with a dismissive-avoidant attachment tend to lead more inward lives, both denying the importance of loved ones and detaching easily from them”. The last type of attachment style which Firestone mentions is called fearful avoidant attachment. In this type of attachment relationship usually the partner has a fear of getting too close to their significant other, because they think that they might hurt them, but at the same time they are afraid of being too distant. Firestone follows to state that “As adults, these individuals tend to find themselves in rocky or dramatic relationships, with many highs and lows. They often have fears of being abandoned but also struggle with being intimate. They may cling to their partner when they feel rejected, then feel trapped when they are close. Oftentimes, the timing seems to be off between them and their partner. A person with fearful-avoidant attachment may even wind up in an abusive relationship.” The second adult attachment behavior correlates to the behavior portrayed by anxious infants and the last two attachment styles are associated with the behavior which avoidant infants tend to have towards their caregivers. However, Firestone also states that the attachment styles are not permanent, and if identified can be changed or improved based on the experiences formed from the choices made by an individual with the attachment.

Attachment Styles and Solutions:

      Journalist by the name of Jenna Birch has authored an article called “Knowing your ‘attachment style’ could make you a smarter dater” and posted it on the Washington Post. In this article she unveils her personal experience of being in an unsuccessful relationship and how understanding attachment styles has led her to being more open-minded and cautious about further choices which she will make regarding the romantic side of her life. She states “After learning my attachment style in the aftermath of my anxious-avoidant trap, I came up with a better working model for my romantic relationships based around my personal needs. I have mostly chosen to date secure men ever since, men who can respond to my needs without getting defensive. (My last boyfriend was a secure attacher, and it’s no surprise this was my longest and healthiest relationship.)” In her case understanding attachment styles seems to be beneficial. She does not only provide her experience, but she also offers a solution and advice on who she thinks would be the best compatible person for individuals with specific attachment styles. She believes that a person with a secure attachment style would not only accommodate the needs of their significant other but would also help them to improve upon their own attachment style. Birch states “What’s great about secure attachers is that they’re super-adaptable human beings. They can provide the intimacy and reassurance that anxious and fearful attachers require without getting spooked; they can also provide avoidants with the space they need, so romantic relationships don’t overwhelm them. Dating a secure is probably the goal”.

      Using today’s technology, it is much easier to recognize attachment styles from different tests and books built on multiple cases and studies. Based on an article written by Kelsey Borresen called “This ‘Attachment Style’ Test Can Tell You What Kind Of Romantic Partner You Are” she backs up Birtch’s point of view that secure attachment partners are the best type of people in a romantic relationship with, by stating that “if you have an anxious style but your secure partner offers lots of love and reassurance, you’re less likely to be preoccupied with where you stand in the relationship. If you have an avoidant style but you’re with a secure partner who allows you space and independence, you probably won’t feel the need to push them away.” In her article she also describes different styles of attachment just like Birch does and talks about research which backs up her claims. However, in the end she does mention something that catches my attention, she quotes another researcher’s claim which states that no matter how hard the influence or patterns of behavior which we acquired from our relationships with our caregivers in the earlier changes of life, “if you meet something that’s contrary to your beliefs, and if you meet it long enough, you will change.”

Conclusion:

   With all the studies conducted throughout decades by various researchers and psychologists it can be concluded that there is an existing correlation between adult romantic relationships and attachment styles formulated by infant-caregiver relationships. In fact, it can be said that it is the backbone of the formation process of romantic relationships. Even though the patterns of specific attachment styles have been implemented into our system, according to the writings previously mentioned in the research, they can still be changed or influenced by making the right choices in finding partners that would accommodate our needs the best. In this case it can be said that secure attachment style partners are a way to go if one is looking to spark a change in their own attachment behaviors.

Bibliography:

Birch, Jenna. “Analysis | Knowing Your ‘Attachment Style’ Could Make You a Smarter Dater.” The Washington Post, WP Company, 31 Mar. 2019, https://www.washingtonpost.com/news/soloish/wp/2018/08/16/knowing-your-attachment-style-could-make-you-a-smarter-dater/.

Borresen, Kelsey. “This Test Can Tell You What Kind of Romantic Partner You Are.” HuffPost, HuffPost, 29 Aug. 2020, https://www.huffpost.com/entry/attachment-styles-romantic-relationships_n_5b7aec01e4b018b93e965509.

Firestone, Lisa. “How Your Attachment Style Impacts Your Relationship.” Psychology Today, Sussex Publishers, 30 July 2013, https://www.psychologytoday.com/us/blog/compassion-matters/201307/how-your-attachment-style-impacts-your-relationship.

Fraley, C. R. (2018). A brief overview of adult attachment theory and research: R. Chris Fraley. A Brief Overview of Adult Attachment Theory and Research | R. Chris Fraley. Retrieved October 18, 2021, from http://labs.psychology.illinois.edu/~rcfraley/attachment.htm.

Helpful Assignments:

#1 Research topic reflection

The question which I would like to investigate and conduct further research on would be “How attachment disorders which are developed during childhood affect adult relationships?”. I decided to look further into this matter because I was noticing most of my peers, including myself, having difficulty finding someone who we were compatible with. I believe there to be a pattern between the type of adult relationships and the attachment styles that those Individual’s developed from childhood experiences. To further understand why some people, have consistent relationships and others have trouble finding their match, it is crucial to look at the differences from a psychological perspective. 

#2 Research Proposal

believe it is important to study how attachment styles which are developed during childhood would affect adult relationships because it would help to clarify reoccurring patterns in both successful and unsuccessful relationships, which would later become a useful tool for different individuals to assess the situation that they are in and act accordingly. My intentions for conducting further research on this matter were heightened when I noticed my colleagues and acquaintances having trouble developing stable relationships which would be mutually beneficial and satisfactory for both them and their significant other. Even though some of their significant others did exceed my colleagues’ expectations, they were still not happy with their relationships. After making several observations I had to take into consideration that in fact maybe it was not about the criteria that they have set for their partners but a psychological factor that prevented them from stabilizing their connections. In my perspective once a research question is proposed, it should be easy for me to find at least two sources, one which would prove that a cause and affect do exist between attachment styles and adult relationships, and another which would contradict the first source. I would be able to find all the useful sources which I intend on using by October 25. Afterwards I should be able to have a clear idea about my outline on Tuesday and be able to finish it by the end of next week. The proposal of this research is meant to appeal to people who firstly want to improve upon their behavior or find clarification in their faults and flaws of not being able to have a stable relationship. Secondly, people who want to evade that kind of fate for their children in the future by taking certain actions and measures which would be crucial to their child’s development. I found that the research paper written by Manja Vollmann et al. Titled “Adult attachment and relationship satisfaction: The mediating role of gratitude toward the partner”(https://journals.sagepub.com/doi/full/10.1177/0265407519841712) would best represent the format in which I believe my essay should be interpreted. In this research paper the authors talk about how distinctive styles of attachment result in different types of adult relationships. They include an abstract and the research question, as well as they use numerous credible sources to support and build on top of their research question. They also introduce a study in which they then discuss the results for and how it aligns with the ideas driven from other sources that support their hypothesis. In order to affirm the credibility of their writing they use analytical evidence as well as supported data from previous research conducted on this matter. I would definitely use sources such as case studies in my research paper because it would make my argument more credible by providing the audience with proof which would answer some of the questions that they might have regarding my ideas.

Bibliography:

Fraley, C. R. (2018). A brief overview of adult attachment theory and research: R. Chris Fraley. A Brief Overview of Adult Attachment Theory and Research | R. Chris Fraley. Retrieved October 18, 2021, fromhttp://labs.psychology.illinois.edu/~rcfraley/attachment.htm.Vollmann, M., Sprang, S., & Brink, F. van den. (2019, April 16). Adult attachment and relationship satisfaction: The mediating role of gratitude toward the partner – Manja Vollmann, sem sprang, Femke van den Brink,2019. SAGE Journals. Retrieved October 18, 2021, fromhttps://journals.sagepub.com/doi/full/10.1177/0265407519841712.

#3 Report on Research in Progress

While browsing the internet for academic sources I found a research paper titled “Adult attachment Theory and Research” written by R. Chris Fraley has served me as a reliable piece of writing in a sense that he includes information which can be classified as a backbone for the development of my research question. Fraley starts off with a theory that was discovered by a psychologist named John Bowlby. This is a very crucial piece of information because his perception on the behavior and relationships between infants and parents served as a fundamental base for further research and studies concerning attachments styles. “Bowlby argued that, over the course of evolutionary history, infants who were able to maintain proximity to an attachment figure via attachment behaviors would be more likely to survive to a reproductive age. According to Bowlby, a motivational system, what he called the attachment behavioral system, was gradually “designed” by natural selection to regulate proximity to an attachment figure.” (Fraley). His belief in the theory that attachment behavior was more than just a “defense mechanism” let other researchers such as Hazan and Shaver to look more deeply into it and use it to correlate attachment styles with adult romantic relationships. “According to Hazan and Shaver, the emotional bond that develops between adult romantic partners is partly a function of the same motivational system–the attachment behavioral system–that gives rise to the emotional bond between infants and their caregivers. Hazan and Shaver noted that the relationship between infants and caregivers and the relationship between adult romantic partners share the following features…” (Fraley). This source is credible because it contains factual evidence of past occurring studies which were conducted not only to identify what attachment styles are and how they came to be, but also to help understand the relativeness of attachment styles to adult relationships. I would use the different research and theories listed in this source to support the validity of my purposed question.

 Second source which I have found to be reliable in the process of supporting my ideas was “How Your Attachment Style Impacts Your Relationship” by a clinical psychologist Lisa Firestone. I found this article while scheming through different psychology related news websites and magazines and discovered it on a website called “Psychology Today”. In her writing Lisa states “Our style of attachment affects everything from our partner selection to how well our relationships progress to, sadly, how they end. That is why recognizing our attachment pattern can help us understand our strengths and vulnerabilities in a relationship.” (Firestone). She introduces the article by already supporting my idea that there is a correlation between attachment styles and adult relationships and tries to persuade the audience in recognizing their attachment styles will be beneficial for their current or desired relationships, as she states “The attachment style you developed as a child based on your relationship with a parent or early caretaker doesn’t have to define your ways of relating to those you love in your adult life. If you come to know your attachment style, you can uncover ways you are defending yourself from getting close and being emotionally connected and work toward forming an “earned secure attachment.”(Firestone). She lists four different attachment styles and their criteria so the reader can compare the differences and find similarities within themselves. Not only does she provide the information in the article so the reader can access it easily, but she provides hope for the audience that the attachment styles are not permanent and if recognized can be worked upon to change for the better. Her writing is credible as she has a PhD in psychology and is a director of research and education for the Glendon Association according to the website.

   The third source which I have found to be helpful is titled “Knowing your ‘attachment styles’ could make you a smarter dater” written by Jenna Birch. I found this article when I was browsing through popular newsletter websites such as “The Washington Post”. The reason why this article captured my attention is because the author reveals her personal attachment patterns which makes the audience more comfortable with her as she is so open. She also offers a solution in dept on how to change a specific attachment pattern by choosing the right partner. She states “After learning my attachment style in the aftermath of my anxious-avoidant trap, I came up with a better working model for my romantic relationships based around my personal needs. I have mostly chosen to date secure men ever since, men who can respond to my needs without getting defensive. (My last boyfriend was a secure attacher, and it’s no surprise this was my longest and healthiest relationship.)” (Birch). Offering her personal experience will help my audience for my research paper better understand themselves and identify their attachment styles, because they will have somebody who can serve them as an example, so they do not feel like they are an outcast if their attachment styles are not the best based on their own criteria. I would say Birch is also credible because according to The Washington Post she is a journalist who has authored multiple articles for different publication platforms about health and wellness.

   Fourth source which I have found that is supportive of my idea as well would be “This ‘Attachment Style’ Test Can Tell You What Kind of Romantic Partner You Are” by Kelsey Borresen. Her article is organized beginning  from describing what attachment styles are, providing the information regarding the type of attachment styles, and discussing as well as giving examples on how to fix them, However I do second guess myself when I think about incorporating her writing in my research paper, just because she does not seem like a major journalist, a scientist, or a doctor and I would be able to find a better format relating to the accuracy of the information which is being provided. So far, I have not found any sources which I have discarded but I am still debating if I should keep this one due to its uncertain credibility. For now, I do believe I have enough information whether it will be factual or personal which would support my idea that a correlation does exist between attachment styles and adult relationships.

Bibliography:

Birch, Jenna. “Analysis | Knowing Your ‘Attachment Style’ Could Make You a Smarter Dater.” The Washington Post, WP Company, 31 Mar. 2019, https://www.washingtonpost.com/news/soloish/wp/2018/08/16/knowing-your-attachment-style-could-make-you-a-smarter-dater/.

Borresen, Kelsey. “This Test Can Tell You What Kind of Romantic Partner You Are.” HuffPost, HuffPost, 29 Aug. 2020, https://www.huffpost.com/entry/attachment-styles-romantic-relationships_n_5b7aec01e4b018b93e965509.

Firestone, Lisa. “How Your Attachment Style Impacts Your Relationship.” Psychology Today, Sussex Publishers, 30 July 2013, https://www.psychologytoday.com/us/blog/compassion-matters/201307/how-your-attachment-style-impacts-your-relationship.

Fraley, C. R. (2018). A brief overview of adult attachment theory and research: R. Chris Fraley. A Brief Overview of Adult Attachment Theory and Research | R. Chris Fraley. Retrieved October 18, 2021, from http://labs.psychology.illinois.edu/~rcfraley/attachment.htm.

#4 Post-Essay Reflection

    When writing my essay for the previous assignment I was thinking about my audience which I identified as the upcoming freshman of the fall semester of 2022. It made me rethink the way I would write my genre, language, and tone, because while writing, challenging thoughts would appear to me about how I could make my writing more comprehensive and appealing for my audience. When writing my essay, I chose to write it in a genre of a research paper. I found this format to be more comprehendible for my audience as I introduced my topic which I would discuss throughout the paper while unveiling the sources and the ideas behind them in an orderly and organized fashion. High school students mostly individuals who graduated high school are not familiar with different genres of writing unless placed in exceptional circumstances because of the formats they were asked to follow during their study years, so it would take longer time for them to understand an idea behind a paper if they had to figure out the structure of the writing first. Research papers are helpful in this scenario, as it contains an introduction, body paragraphs with sub titles and a conclusion. This kind of format organizes the ideas for the students and their familiarity with the structure of the paper allows them to focus more on what is being said in the paper rather than how it’s written. The tone which I used in the paper was informative. The reason why this type of tone in writing makes it easier for the students to read the paper is because it is neutral. I do not show any biases in the paper and by doing so I give students an easier pathway to create their own biases and perspectives on the writing solely based on the sources and the ideas which I present to them using the evidence from the sources, However the language I use is not too formal because I do not want to intimidate the students, If the students focus on deciphering vocabulary words or analyzing why certain ideas were organized in a specific manner, they might forget or strain away from the main idea of the essay, also when being informal it allows students to think that the research paper was written by someone who is like them or maybe even less skilled than they are, which allows them to feel confident in what they are reading and comprehend complicated ideas in a simplistic manner.

  Back in august I would not have been able to make these remarks about writing. I would not have understood what rhetoric is and how it is used in various genres of writing to change the audience’s mind or present a strong stance for a specific idea. I did not know what genre even meant and how it can be used to manipulate the effectiveness in the presentation process of ideas. Developing a strong fundamental understanding of the elements used in writing has allowed me to identify how my audience (upcoming college freshman) would feel about my writing, as I have been in their shoes and can clearly differentiate what I was capable of knowing back then versus what I know now. In order to take participation in the journey of gaining the ability to understand terms and different elements of writing, I had to not only be introduced to the terminology but partake in activities which would allow me to practice them. Activities such as peer review, research, synthesis, and the drafting process of my essay have all taken a crucial part in strengthening my comprehensive as well as writing skills. Peer reviews have allowed me to share my thoughts on writing and see other people’s perspective on my writing, I would say it was one of the most important aspects of developing a more well written essay, because it allowed me to see flaws in my writing which I have not before and I was able to eliminate them easily. Assessing other people’s writing has also helped me as well because by identifying their errors I was able to go back and recheck my essay for something similar. Research was also an important part in developing my essay because in order to validate my ideas, the evidence gathered must be from credible sources. If the sources are not credible the evidence cannot be strong enough in convincing the audience that the idea which you proposed is correct. Knowing what to look for while doing research is crucial, for example seeing if the author of your source has a background that would validate their writing or any experience in the subject which they are writing about. After finding the right sources it is important to synthesize them in a correct manner. For example, when using your source to back up your claim, if you use the wrong evidence or quote from your source, it makes the connection even more incoherent. That is why it is crucial to connect the right information from your sources to your ideas, but what I believe was the most helpful thing in bringing everything together was the drafting process. Without the drafting process sometimes, your essay might not be able to reach its full potential. When drafting multiple times, every time new mistakes can be spotted and even the outline can be updated and turned into a better format for the final outcome.