Attachment : Influence Of Early Attachment

Question 1

What is internal working model?

Answer 1

According to Bowlby, an internal working model is a mental representation of our relationship with our primary caregiver that becomes a template for future relationships and allows individuals to predict, control and manipulate their environment.
Through this important early relationship with their primary caregiver, which Bowlby termed a monotropy, an infant learns what a relationship is, how it is formed, and patterns of behaviour about how individuals relate to one another in partnerships

Question 2

what is an internal working model of an infant?

Answer 2

The internal working model of an infant is thought to predict the likely outcomes of behaviour in childhood and adulthood. For example, an infant who has experienced sensitive responsiveness from their caregiver will likely form a secure attachment type and come to expect functional, reliable and loving relationships in the future. Conversely, an infant who has poor early experiences in forming an attachment are more likely to behave inappropriately in future relationships or struggle to form any at all.

Question 3

What is Hazan and Shaver study?

Answer 3

Aim: A questionnaire, termed the ‘Love Quiz’, designed to test the internal working model to assess if attachment type formed as an infant influences friendships and adult relationships.

Procedure: The ‘Love Quiz’, comprising three sections, was published in a local American newspaper and received 620 volunteer responses (205 males and 415 females). The first section was designed to assess the individuals’ most important relationship. The second section focused on ascertaining general experiences in love and the third part asked self-selecting participants about their feelings in relation to some statements.

Question 4

How does the internal working model impact future relationships?

Answer 4

IWM = this template will be the basis of our assumptions about all relationships so we will seek out, and form, relationships that mirror that. We will also behave in a way that mirrors our IWM (e.g. insecure-resistant may be controlling or argumentative in relationships)

Question 5

Findings of Hazen and Shaver?

Answer 5

Out of 620 replies:
- 56% of respondents classified themselves secure
-25% avoidant
- 19% resistant

• Love experience and attitudes towards love (internal working model) were related to attachment type
• Those who were securely attached: believed love is enduring, had mutual trust and were less likely to get divorced
• Those who were insecurely attached: felt love was rare, fell in and out of love easily, found relationships less easy, were more likely to be divorced

Question 6

What is a secure attachment

Answer 6

Infants who have healthy bond with PCG, average separation/stranger anxiety, happy at reunion, high exploration with PCG as secure base

Question 7

What is an insecure avoidant

Answer 7

Infants who don’t suffer separation/stranger anxiety, indifferent at reunion, high exploration

Question 8

What is an insecure resistant

Answer 8

Infants who suffer high separation/stranger anxiety, torn emotions at reunion, low exploration

Question 9

What is internal working model

Answer 9

Blueprint for future relationships based on PCG

Question 10

What is the love quiz

Answer 10

Questionnaire on continuity of attachment style and love attitudes

Question 11

What did Bailey do?

Answer 11

looked at the attachment type of nearly 100 mothers and their infants (assessed in the strange situation) with the relationships they had with their own mothers (established in an interview). It was found that a vast proportion of the women had the same attachment type to their infant as to their own mother, supporting the concept of the internal working model influencing parenting style. Likewise, findings from Harlow’s study using non-human animals also mirror this pattern. Monkeys with poor or no attachments were seen to experience difficulties with parenting because of their early, formative experiences

Question 12

Evaluation of Baileys study?

Answer 12

• Issues of validity – most studies don’t use the strange situation but interview or questionnaire. Problems with Pp being honest with response. Retrospective data.
• Association doesn’t mean causality –the child’s temperament may influence.

Question 13

What is a sensitive response

Answer 13

The internal working model of an infant is thought to predict the likely outcomes of behaviour in childhood and adult hood. For sample and an infant who has experience sensitive responsiveness from their caregiver will likely form a secure attachment type and come to expect functional reliable and loving relationships in the future
Unlike an infant who has poor early experience in forming an attachment are more likely to behave inappropriately in the future or struggle to form any relationships at all.

Question 14

What did Kerns (1994) find?

Answer 14

Found that securely attached infants are more inclined to have a good quality pain relationship during childhood, whilst infants with insecure attachment types are likely to have difficulty with making or maintaining friendships

Question 15

What did Sroufe et al do?

Answer 15

• Conducted the Minnesota child-parent study and found that infants who were rated high in social competence during childhood during childhood were more empathetic, popular and felt less isolated.
• These results can be easily understood by considering the role of the internal working model since infants who are securely attached will have positive expectations that others whom they relate to will be trustworthy and friendly in return, which provides the ideal platform for interacting with others,during childhood.

Question 16

Conclusion of Hazen and Shaver?

Answer 16

the findings analysed from the ‘Love Quiz’ indicate that specific attachment type behaviours are reflected in adult romantic relationships because of an internal working model formed in infancy to guide expectations.

Question 17

evaluation of influences of early attachment?

Answer 17

-There is mixed research in determining continuity of attachment type from childhood to adulthood. Zimmerman (2000) suggests that infant attachment type classification and the quality of relationships with parents during adolescence are not related. These findings do not support the role of the internal working model being important in the development of childhood and adult relationships, casting doubt on the emphasis placed on this concept by developmental psychologists such as Bowlby.

-There are methodological issues with assessing attachment type retrospectively. Much research, such as the ‘Love Quiz’ by Hazan and Shaver rely upon self-report from adult participants about their memories from infancy and childhood. Recollection from years gone by are likely to be impaired and any answers provided may lack accuracy due to deterioration which lowers the internal validity of findings. This problem is further compounded by the possibility that individuals may not report honestly or even have an insight into their own template of expectations since the internal working model in an unconscious framework.