Critical Period and an Internal Working Model

• Critical Period


  The idea that an attachment has to take place within a certain time scale, otherwise, it will never happen for the infant
• Critical Period


  • Based on the biological idea of time scales in the physiological development of a fetus
  • Bowlby believed the same could be true for psychological development, hence the critical period for attachment
  • Bowlby strongly felt that an infant needed an attachment to develop in the first 2.5 years
  • If it did not it would be very difficult, if not impossible for it to develop afterward, leading to problems in later childhood and adulthood
• Rutter found that children kept in horrendous conditions with minimal contact with adults were still able to form attachments when adopted into stable homes, even though some were a lot older than the 2.5 years Bowlby discussed
• Sensitive Period


  Bowlby's amended theory, meaning it is ideal to attach in the first 2.5 years but it is not essential, as it is possible to attach later
• Internal Working Model (IWM)


  An internal representation of how we see ourselves as well as how we expect others to react to us
• IWM


  • Formed in our early childhood, mostly through our interactions with our Primary Care Giver (PCG)
  • It will impact how we interact with others and form relationships for the rest of our lives
  • Explains why we all react and behave so differently to others: Our early experience shapes us
• Secure Attachment and IWM


  If an infant has a secure attachment, they grow up feeling loved by their PCG and knowing they are worthy of love. Their IWM will be positive and they expect people to treat them well.
• Insecure Avoidant Attachment and IWM


  If an infant has had an insecure-avoidant attachment, they will feel ignored by their caregiver and so will ignore them back. Their IWM will lead them to expect rejection and have little self-worth, so they remain aloof and avoid close relationships.
• Insecure Resistant Attachment and IWM


  If an infant has had an insecure resistant attachment, they will have grown up believing they had to make a fuss to get attention. Their IWM will form so that they believe they must be clingy and possessive in later relationships to keep the person interested.
• Mary Main found a link between childhood attachment styles and adult attachment styles, supporting the IWM theory