Summary psychology- IWM (internal working model)

IWM (Internal Working Model)- Based on Parenting, It’s like a template/framework on your
relations in the future and how it influences your adulthood.

Hazan and Shaver (1987)

Aim: To test the internal working model by looking at the association between early
attachment and adult relationships

Procedure: They placed a “love quiz” in a local newspaper asking questions about 3 key
features:
● Current and most important relationships
● Attachment history/ attachment type
● The IWM was assessed by questions focusing on attitudes towards love
● 620 responses: 205 men, 415 women

My Quiz results
1. B (Insecure avoidant)
2. C (insecure avoidant)
3. A (Insecure resistant)
4. C (secure)
5. C (insecure avoidant)
6. C (insecure resistant)
7. A (insecure avoidant)
8. A (insecure avoidant)
9. B (secure)

Overall I’m insecure avoidant (more likely to be jealous- trust issues, and fear of
intimacy)

56% identified as securely attached, 25% insecure-avoidant, 19% insecure resistant

Secure attachment
- Most likely to have long lasting healthy romantic relationship and experiences
- Positive IWM
- Described their love experiences as happy, loving and friendly

Insecure resistant
- Revealed insecurity and clinginess
- A relationship was found between conception of love (IWM- internal working model)
and attachment type).

Conclusion

Secure adults: positive relationships, high trust, positive image of mother as caring.

Resistant: Falls in love easily but finds it difficult to find a “true love”, conflicting feelings
towards mother.