AO3 - Internal Working Model

• This idea was supported by the continuity hypothesis which suggests that the types of relationships that we have as adults can be predicted by the attachments we have as infants due to the development of the internal working model.
• Bailey et al (2007) found that mothers who had poor attachment to their own primary caregivers, were likely to have poorly attached children.
• Kornienko (2016) suggest that genetic differences in anxiety and sociability may impact on parenting ability.
• Feminists like Burman (1994) point out that this rhetoric blames the mother if anything goes wrong later in life, putting too much emphasis on her primary role.
• Many studies like Bailey et al (2007) followed parent-child relationships in natural environments increasing the ecological validity.
• Many studies have to be longitudinal in nature to see the true effects of the internal working model, which can be problematic.
• Many studies on the internal working model lack validity as they are based on subjective opinions about the success of relationships.
• Many studies on the internal working model are at risk of the social desirability effect.