A fundamental question in the study of attachment is the explanation for differences in quality of attachment. In the present study, the Social Relations Model (SRM) was used to examine whether these differences in quality of attachment could be explained by (a) characteristics of the person (actor effect), (b) characteristics of the attachment figure (partner effect), (c) characteristics of the specific attachment relationship (relationship effect), or (d) characteristics of the family (family effect). In 288 families, two adolescent children and their parents reported on their attachment relationships with other family members. Results of SRM analyses showed that, in general, characteristics of the person reporting the attachment relationship and characteristics of the attachment relationship are the most important explanations for differences in quality of attachment, but the magnitudeof these effects tendsto vary depending on which family relationshipis considered.
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