ATTACHMENT ( INFLUENCE OF EARLY ATTACH & INTERNAL WORKING MODEL ) Flashcards
Outline the role of the internal working model in determining behaviour
The internal working model is how an infant learns about relationships what they are and how partners in relationship behave towards each other . The model is used to predict the behaviour of other people in the future . Behaviours influenced by the internal working model are childhood friendships , poor parenting , romantic relationships and mental health
Outline the aim, procedure and findings of Hazan and Shaver’s study to test the internal working model : ‘Love Quiz’
AIM : Designed the study to test the internal working model
PROCEDURE : Hazan and Shaver placed a ‘Love Quiz’ in the Rocky Mountains News . The quiz asked questions about current and past attachment experiences to identify current and childhood attachment types.The quiz also aasked questions about love assessing the internal working model . They analysed 620 responses , 205 from men and 415 from women .
FINDINGS : When analysing self report of attachment history they found that prevelant attachment was the same as the one found in infancy. 56% were secure, 25% avoidant and 19% resistant . They found a positive correlation between attachment type and love experiences. Secure adults described their love experiences as happy , friendly and trusting , they emphasised on being able to accept and support their partners despite faults. These relationships endured 10 years on average compared to 5 to 6 years for resistant and voidant participants. They found a relationship between the conception of love ( IWM) and attachment type , securely attached individuals tended to have a positive internal working model .
EVALUATE the influence of early attachments
POINT : one criticsim of hazan and shaver’s experiment is that they rely on retrospective classification ( past events )
EVIDENCE /EXPLANATION : When adults are asked about their early lives in order to assess infant attachment , recall may be flawed This is because our memory about the past are not always accurate HOWEVER longitudinal studies support support their findings . Simpson et al found that pps who were securely attached as infants were rated as having higher social competence , more expressive and emotionally attaced to their partner in early adulthood
LINK : These longidunal studies support the view that attachment type does predict relationships in adult life and may offer an accurate representation of early attachment influences.
POINT : Another critism is that research is overly determinist .
EVIDENCE/EXPLANATION : Hazan and Shaver suggest that very early experiences have a fixed effect on later adult relationships suggesting children who are not securely attached will not be able to experience emotionally satisfactory relationships as adults. However this not the case as researchers found plenty participants were experiencing happy adult relationships despite not having been securely attached as infants.
LINK : The research does not suggest that an individual’s past unalternably determines the future course of his/her relationships
