“Title: A qualitative study showing the influence that childhood relationships have on future relationships. Abstract: This study examines the influence that childhood relationships have on future relationships. A qualitative thematic analysis was carried out on an individuals interview discussing her childhood relationships and continuing to discuss previous and current relationships. This was a pre-existing semi structured interview that was filmed and transcribed. Thematic analysis showed that there is a strong influence from childhood relationships that have an effect on future relationships but these can be altered. It is not only new relationships that are affected but previous ones and with oneself.”

Introduction:

Looking at how childhood relationships have an influence on relationships in the future. Relationships from primary caregivers, the mother and the father in this particular study. These strong emotional attachments created and developed in childhood within these relationships are however not fixed and have the ability to be altered. Attachment refers to the strong and continuous emotional bond between two people. It is suggested that the two key assumptions made in attachment research, individuals characteristics are reflective in the way they behave towards each other and these characteristic styles originate from their first relationships, usually with their caregiver (challenging psychological issues, pg 23). Bowlbys theory of attachment suggests that a childs primary attachment relationship does have an influence on a persons relationships and attachment as…(short extract)