I think that a contributing factor could be the kind of attachment the parents formed as children. They are like to repeat the same behaviors they observed in their own parents growing up, allowing them to form the same attachment with their own children. Contrarily, it is possible that parents who formed anxious/resistant or anxious/avoidant attachments as while they were growing up recognize the undesirable behaviors of their parents and make a point not to repeat those behaviors so they can form secure attachments with their own children.
This makes a lot of sense. They say it takes several generations to break certain familial patterns of behavior. Despite any sort of will power or commitments, most people will still revert back to the behaviors that they have experienced before.
-- Edited by 102intro on Tuesday 7th of April 2009 10:59:15 AM
I agree because I believe that how the parents were treated when they were growing up greatly influences how they treat their own children in the future. The mentality that is developed throughout their lives will affect how they treat others. In the end, it would be an ongoing cycle that goes on from generation to generation. However, there is a possibility that a parent, who grew up from an insecure attachment when he was a child, can change the way he treats his future children because he realizes the importance of fostering a secure attachment between the child and parent.
