What influences a person's expectations about relationships according to attachment styles?

The correct answer highlights that a person's expectations about relationships are significantly shaped by their early experiences, particularly the relationship with their primary caregiver during infancy. This concept is rooted in attachment theory, which posits that the bonds formed with primary caregivers serve as a blueprint for future relationships.

When infants develop a secure attachment with their caregivers, they are more likely to expect trust, support, and emotional closeness in their later relationships. Conversely, insecure attachment styles, which arise from less responsive caregiving, can lead to expectations of anxiety, avoidance, or fear regarding intimacy and connection. This foundational experience informs how individuals perceive, navigate, and engage in relationships throughout their lives.

The other options touch on various factors influencing relationships but do not relate to the core theory of attachment styles as directly as the caregiver relationship does. Lasting impacts of personal friendships and peer experiences in teenage years may play a role in shaping relationship expectations, but they are more secondary to the foundational experiences provided by primary caregivers. Similarly, while social media can affect how relationships are formed and maintained, it does not primarily dictate underlying expectations rooted in early attachment experiences. Thus, the relationship with a primary caregiver is central to understanding a person's expectations about adult relationships.