At - The influence of early attachment Flashcards
What is Bowlby’s concept of the internal working model similar to?
A schema.
Why/how is the internal working model an ‘operable’ model of self and attachment partner?
Because it is used to predict the behaviour of other people in the future.
What is a key study on the influence of early attachment?
Hazan and Shaver (1987).
Describe the procedure of Hazan and Shaver’s study investigating the influence of early attachment and the internal working model
They placed a ‘Love Quiz’ in the Rocky Mountain News (an American small-town publication). This quiz asked questions about current attachment experiences and about attachment history to identify current and childhood attachment types.
The questionnaire also asked questions about attitudes towards love, an assessment of the internal working model.
They analysed 620 responses, 205 from men and 415 from women, from a fair cross-section of the population.
Describe the findings of Hazan and Shaver’s study investigating the influence of early attachment and the internal working model
When analysing self-report attachment history they found that the prevalence of attachment style was similar to that found in infancy - 56% were classified as secure, 25% as avoidant and 19% are resistant.
They also found a positive correlation between attachment type and love experiences. Securely attached adults described their love experiences as happy, friendly and trusting; they emphasised being able to accept and support their partner despite faults. These relationships were more enduring - 10 years on average compared to 5 and 6 years for resistant and avoidant ppts respectively.
Finally, they found a relationship between the conception of love (the internal working model) and attachment type - securely attached individuals tended to have a positive internal working model.
What behaviours are influenced by the internal working model?
Childhood friendships.
Poor parenting.
Romantic relationships.
Mental health.
What is the evidence that childhood friendships are influenced by the internal working model?
The Minnesota child-parent study found continuity between early attachment and later emotional/social behaviour.
Individuals who were classified as securely attached in infancy were highest rated for social competence later in childhood, were less isolated and more popular, and more empathetic.
This can be explained in terms of the IWM because securely attached infants have higher expectations that others are friendly and trusting, and this would enable easier relationships with others.
What is the evidence that poor parenting is influenced by the internal working model?
Harlow’s research with monkeys also demonstrated a link between poor attachment and later difficulties with parenting. Quinton et al. carried out a study which found that the same is true in humans. The lack of an IWM means that individuals lack a reference point to subsequently form relationships with their own children.
What is the evidence that romantic relationships are influenced by the internal working model?
The study by Hazan and Shaver demonstrated a link between early attachment type and later relationships. Individuals who were securely attached had longer-lasting romantic relationships.
What is the evidence that mental health is influenced by the internal working model?
The lack of attachment during the critical period in development would result in a lack of an IWM. Children with attachment disorder have no preferred attachment figure, an inability to interact and relate to others that is evident before the age of 5, and experience of severe neglect or frequent change of caregivers.
For some time a condition called attachment disorder has been recognised but it has recently been classed as a distinct psychiatric condition included in the DSM.
Define internal working model (IWM)
A mental model of the world which enables individuals to predict and control their environment. In the case of attachment the model relates to a person’s expectations about relationships.
