AO1

• According to Bowlby (1969) later relationships are likely to be a continuation of early attachment styles (secure and insecure) because the behavior of the infant’s primary attachment figure promotes an internal working model of relationships which leads the infant to expect the same in later relationships. This is the continuity hypothesi
• The role of the internal working model

  • The concept is similar to a schema
  • A infant learns about a relationship from experience - the infant learns what relationships are and how partners in a relationship behave towards each other
• Key study: Hazan and Shaver

  • Designed a study to test the internal working model
• Key study: Hazan and Shaver

  • Procedure - placed a 'love quiz' in the rocky mountain news. The quiz asked questions about current attachment experiences and about attachment history to identify current and childhood types
  • The questionnaire also asked questions about attitudes towards love,an assessment of the internal working model
• Key study: Hazan and Shaver

  • Findings - when analysing self report of attachment history they found that the prevalence of attachment styles was similar to that found in infancy
  • 56% were classified as secure, 25% as avoidance and 19% are resistant
  • They also found a positive correlation between attachment type and love experiences
• Behaviours influenced by the internal working model

  • Childhood friendships
  • Poor parenting
  • Romantic relationship
  • Mental health
• Continuity Hypothesis suggests an individual's future relationships will follow a pattern based on their IWM. This pattern includes an individual's childhood friendships, adult partners and parenting relationships with their children