Borito, Justine L.

May 5, 2024

AB Psychology 1-B Developmental Psychology

Article Review on
“Childhood attachment and adult personality:
A life history perspective. Self and Identity”

The article titled “Childhood Attachment and Adult Personality: A Life History

Perspective,” by Young, Simpson, Griskevicius, Huelsnitz, and Fleck (2017) explore how our

early experiences of attachment during childhood shape our personality as adults. They

conducted a study over several years to understand this complex relationship better. In this study,

the authors delved at how our early attachment to caregivers predicts our personality traits later

in life, specifically focusing on stability. They found out that being securely attached as children

is linked to higher levels of stability as adults, while insecure attachment is linked to lower

stability. This stability is characterized by traits like agreeableness, conscientiousness, and

neuroticism. Additionally, they explored how attachment security might influence stability

through factors like the relationship with our parents and our mental health. This research sheds

light on how our early experiences shape our personalities in adulthood.

This article discusses how early interpersonal experiences, informed by attachment

theory and life history theory, may predict personality patterns in adulthood. Specifically, it

examines how attachment security in early life is seen as an indicator of the life trajectory one is

likely to adopt later on. It also explores potential mediation pathways, such as adult attachment

representations and psychopathology symptoms, but did not find significant mediators.
 Despite this, the direct link between early attachment security and adult stability

remained significant even when controlling for these factors. The study draws parallels with

animal literature, specifically studies on the impact of early maternal grooming on rat pups, to

support its findings.

The article's strength lies in its long-term study design, which allows for a better

understanding of how attachment patterns evolve over time, especially its comprehensive

examination of attachment behavior from infancy to adulthood and its impact on personality

traits, particularly focusing on stability. By considering attachment security as an indicator of life

history trajectory, the study provides insights into how early experiences shape long-term

personality development. Focusing on stability as a meta-trait allows for a nuanced

understanding of how individuals with different attachment histories may navigate personal and

relational goals. The study also explores the mediation pathways that enhance the depth of

analysis, shedding light on potential mechanisms underlying the relationship between attachment

security and stability. The significant direct effect of early attachment security on stability

reinforces the robustness of the findings.

Furthermore, the integration of attachment theory and life history theory enriches our

understanding of personality development by elucidating the role of early environments in

shaping individual differences in adulthood. However, relying solely on self-reported data may

introduce biases, and it is unclear if the findings can be applied to different cultures.
 While the authors make valuable contributions to the field, there are some gaps in their

theoretical framework. It acknowledges limitations, such as the inability to identify mediators

and the absence of Big Five trait data at earlier ages. Moreover, genetic factors could potentially

influence attachment security and caregiving styles, although their impact is not fully explored.

They could explore more deeply the mechanisms behind how attachment styles influence

specific personality traits, drawing on theories like attachment theory. Although the authors'

arguments are supported by evidence, more research is needed to address methodological

limitations and incorporate different perspectives.

In conclusion, the article “Childhood Attachment and Adult Personality: A Life History

Perspective” explores how early experiences shape adult personalities. It introduces one

confirmatory hypothesis and two exploratory ones, emphasizing the importance of early

attachment security in shaping long-term traits. The findings suggest that attachment security in

infancy consistently relates to stability over a 30-year period. By integrating attachment and life

history theories, the article deepens our understanding of how early environments influence adult

personality development. However, further research is needed to refine methods and consider

cultural perspectives for better interventions across the lifespan.