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The Internal Working Model

The Internal Working Model

Flowchart showing warm versus rejecting caregiving leading to different Internal Working Models and later friendship, romantic and parenting outcomes

Bowlby proposed that a child's first attachment creates an Internal Working Model, a mental blueprint of the self, other people, and relationships. This blueprint shapes expectations such as whether "I am lovable" and whether other people can be trusted.

Influence of early attachment Lesson

  1. A Level
  2. /Psychology
  3. /Influence of early attachment

Step-by-step lessons covering AQA A Level Psychology Influence of early attachment for A Level Psychology. Each lesson works through exam-style questions in Paper 1, Paper 2 and Paper 3 format. Start with the compulsory core topics before tackling the more evaluation-heavy optional and issues-and-debates content.

Lessons

Animal studies of attachmentExplanations of attachmentStrange Situation and cultural variationsMaternal deprivation and institutionalisationInfluence of early attachment