Comment:
Again, we would emphasise that the suggestions we give on each vignette simply point to possible scenarios as illustrative of particular outcomes out of the many possible.
1. An infant who is one of a pair of identical twins, with a single parent who is not working and struggles on a low income
As a teenager, this infant’s IWM might prepare them well to enter a single, exclusive attachment, which nevertheless allows for other simultaneous close peer relationships. This teenager might be less well prepared for accepting other relationships that their partner has.
2. An infant who is an only child with two working parents who sharecaring roles but also have an au-pair who cares for the infant duringthe day
One outcome here might be that the IWM allows for a number of different
close relationships, hence the teenager might be more likely to form a
relationship with a partner within a small group of very close friends.
3. An infant with an illness that necessitates long periods in hospital with painful treatments that require periods of isolation
This infant might be somewhat wary of entering a new relationship until
reassured that it is safe. There might be some fears of loss and
unavailability of other, but adequate support and care during the
hospitalisation could well have alleviated that and helped them to hold
a view of self as worthy of affection.
4. An infant in a nomadic ethnic group where all adults take shared responsibility for the care of infants
Here, the IWM might be most likely to support strong bonds with many members of the community, which is clearly important for a nomadic group. The romantic relationship might only form a small part of the teenager’s web of attachments. This vignette brings out the significance of the context within which attachments form and operate.
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