Influence on Adult relationships

Question 1

What is the internal working model proposed by Bowlby?

Answer 1

The relationship we have with our primary caregiver forms a template/schema for future partners

Question 2

Outline findings from research that support the internal working model in childhood relationships.

Answer 2

Children who are securely attached are more likely to have good-quality peer relationships where as those who are insecurely attached are more likely to have issues forming and maintaining friendships

Question 3

What was Hazan and Shaver’s ‘love quiz’ study?

Answer 3

• a study where a quiz was published in a paper and was designed to assess:
  1) the individuals most important relationship
  2) general experience of love
  3) how they feel in relations to some statements

findings: positive correlation between early attachment types and experience of love with securely attached being most likely to form long and happy relationships and visa versa

Question 4

How do relationships apparently affect parenting?

Answer 4

Parenting is based on the experiences and expectations of the internal working model

a study found that most people share the same attachment type as their other and the same happened later in life to Harlow’s monkeys

Question 5

Evaluation of influences on adult relations?

Answer 5

• Alternative research: Zimmerman conducted study which suggests the opposite and that Bowlby’s findings about the internal working model are incorrect
• Methodological issue: Love quiz is retrospective thus memory is likely to be impaired so accuracy and therefore validity is undermined
• Negative/deterministic: inescapable fate which can cause harm and stress to people