The influence of early attachment on childhood and adult relationships, including the role of an internal working model.

What is the Internal Working Model?

• Mental schema/template for relationships.
• Developed from early attachment experiences.
• Influences expectations of future relationships.

How Does Secure Attachment Influence Childhood Relationships?

• Better friendships.
• Better social skills.
• Greater emotional stability.

How Does Insecure Attachment Influence Childhood Relationships?

• More friendship difficulties.
• Poorer social skills.
• Greater emotional difficulties.

How Does Secure Attachment Influence Adult Relationships?

• More trusting romantic relationships.
• Better emotional communication.

How Does Insecure Attachment Influence Adult Relationships?

• Less trusting relationships.
• Fear of intimacy and commitment.
• Relationship instability.

Hazan and Shaver — Aim

• Investigated relationship between early attachment and adult romantic relationships.

Hazan and Shaver — Procedure

• Published “Love Quiz” in newspaper.
• Adults answered questions about childhood attachment and romantic relationships.

Hazan and Shaver — Findings

• Securely attached adults tended to have healthier adult relationships.
• Supports continuity hypothesis and internal working model.

Bailey et al. — Aim

• Investigated link between mothers’ attachment and babies’ attachment.

Bailey et al. — Procedure

• Observed mothers and babies.
• Measured attachment quality across generations.

Bailey et al. — Findings

• Mothers with poor attachment histories often had poorly attached babies.
• Supports internal working model.

Myron-Wilson and Smith — Aim

• Investigated relationship between attachment type and later friendships/bullying.

Myron-Wilson and Smith — Procedure

• Studied children’s attachment types and friendship quality.
• Investigated involvement in bullying.

Myron-Wilson and Smith — Findings

• Securely attached children had better friendships.
• Insecure-avoidant children more likely to bully.
• Insecure-resistant children more likely to be victims of bullying.

Internal Working Model Evaluation — Supporting Research

• Hazan and Shaver found secure attachment linked to healthier adult relationships.
• Supports continuity hypothesis.

Internal Working Model Evaluation — Correlational Evidence

• Studies only show association.
• Cannot prove early attachment causes later relationship outcomes.

Internal Working Model Evaluation — Real World Application

• Helps psychologists understand effects of childhood relationships.
• Useful for parenting and therapy.

Internal Working Model Evaluation — Reductionist

• Explains relationships mainly through attachment.
• Ignores personality and later experiences.