ABSTRACT
This study will examine the ways that adults construct their own attachment experiences and relationships along and how others influence these attachments and their development. The chosen method for data collection was interviews as they provide full and detailed data for thematic analysis. Other researchers studying within the social constructionist perspective with a main focus on attachment found that attachment relationships are a central part of our lives, which can stem from childhood experiences through to later adult life. There is also some evidence to suggest environment influences an individual. Thematic analysis was used to analyze the data collected which showed that significant others can affect an individual’s development in life.
INTRODUCTION
Qualitative research allows researchers to explore the experiences of individuals, with the main aim of being able to make interpretations about meanings. For this qualitative study the social constructionist perspective was chosen because it suggests the world is constructed in language. The main focus of the research was attachment, a main assumption for attachment research is that individuals use particular characteristics from previous relationships in new relationships; these are reflected in their behaviour towards other people. The relationships and interactions with other people influence an individual’s development, the Nurture Assumption (Judith Rich Harris as cited in Cooper & Roth 2007, p.20) argues that children are not influenced by their parents but are influenced by their peer groups. This idea links with the research into peer and siblings relationships, in particular the work of Schaffer (as cited in Cooper & Roth 2007, p.9) who suggests from observational studies conducted of children interacting/playing, that the children’s interactions can be multifaceted and