The Influence Of IMT / Early Att On Childhood, Romantic And Rs With Own Children

Question 1

Describe the role of the internal working model on future relationships

Answer 1

• bowlby says iwm is a mental representation a child forms of att rs with primary c.g.
• acts as model/template for what future rs will be like and will mirror them
• therefore impacts childs future rs with peers, romantic partners and children
• as ppl base parenting on their own experiences of being parented
• i.m.t passed onto one gen to the next
• loving and responsive to needs primary c.g - secure att - pos iwm and view rs as pos - loving + long lasting rs
• unresponsive to needs c.g. - insecure att - neg iwm and difficulty forming rs - poor future rs e.g. arguing

Question 2

Describe the influence of the iwm on childhood rs

Answer 2

• iwm is linked to quality of peer rs in later childhood
• secure att to primary c.g. - pos iwm - more likely to have better quality rs with peers
• insecure att to primary c.g. - neg iwm - more likely to have difficulties making friends
• early att can also predict bulling bhv
• insecure avoidant - victims of bullying
• insecure resistant - bullies

Question 3

Describe the influence of the iwm on adult romantic rs

Answer 3

• hazen and shaver did research investigating effect of att in early childhood on adult att
• they created the love quiz questionnaire
• found over half of ppts were securely att - pos, loving and long lasting romantic rs with trusting partners
• quarter were insecure avoidant - feared intimacy and more jealous
• rest were insecure resistant - fear being abandoned and can put too much pressure on partner
• concluded early att/iwm reflects and influences adult romantic rs

Question 4

Describe the influence of the iwm on rs with own children

Answer 4

• iwm affects ability to form rs with own children
• as ppl base parenting style on their own iwm and experiences with parents
• mothers tend to have the same att style as own mother
• att passed from one gen to the next

Question 5

What are the three AO3 PEELS to evaluate the influence of iwm / early att on childhood, adult romantic and rs with own children?

Answer 5

RTS by Harlow
Weakness - deterministic
Weakness - retrospective data