Internal Working Model - Essay Example

Internal Working Model: A critical analysis Introduction Internal working model annotates the perception process of the behavioral development of a human being and how a person develops the relationship with the outside world. Internal working model is based on the attachment theory and there has been an extensive work by the psychologists, evolutionists and ethnologists (Bowlby, 1980). It explains a comprehensive model for the developmental process of emotions and attachment with the fellow beings from cradle to grave. The following paper discuss the internal working model in detail and analyses it critically in order to enhance the understanding of the attachment theory and related concepts with the contemporary and evolutionary physiological theories and how these models influence the social work. Explanation Internal working model illustrates the process through which a human being attaches himself with the fellow beings and how attachment mindset come into play while interaction among human beings. An internal working model not only depicts the dynamics of adult relationship but also elucidate the way an infant perceives the society and his surroundings. According to internal working model, every human being develops a working model for this world based on his first hand experiences and what he perceives about the dynamics of different happenings around him (Holmes, 2012). If his key experiences are positive then he will build an affirmative model inside his mind about this world but in the case if otherwise then there will be negative working model and he will perceive the overall world to be on the course of negative side collectively. For example, a new born baby perceives the world to be safe and secure because he experience the same in the form of extensive care from his parents and love of his fellows. The internal working model of a child will be developed on some attachment process which will lay the foundation of a permanent perception. But the same internal working model of infant will be different altogether if the behavior of his parents will be harsh and rude (healingpartnerships,1988) The attachment theory which lays the basis of internal working model rationalizes its stance of the fact that human beings constitute close emotional bonds in the interest of survival. The human beings want to live in healthy and peaceful surroundings so they want to perceive the world to be a secure place when they are infants (McCluskey & Hooper, 2000). But the attachment theory changes its course with the passage of time. Famous British psychologist of the 20th century, John Bowlby argues that the initial internal working model of child and caregiver relationship last long and plays an eminent effect on the adult relationships. If the internal working models of a child were congenial and pleasing then surely his adult relationships will be built on positive terms. The primary concept of internal working model is that human beings forms perception based in past experiences and expectations from others (Bowlby, 1998). They form a well organized structural data for the entire figure that are related to them from childhood up till now and the internal working model works within this structure (Nowacki, 2010). The main future in these models are the figures ( the personalities with which the relationships exists) and certain content about them, which is the explanation and representation of first hand experiences with them and either the perception is good or bad. Theorists and psychologists support that in these internal working models, the processes are of importunate importance as they depict the behavior of the figures involved in the basic model. The processes tell that how the person reacts to the happenings around him and what are his stances about the future and also the nature of his experiences in the past. These processes are hypothesized to effect outside the conscious of the human being because they are the integral part of the internal working model and already being developed and there is a very less chance that this model will be changed unless in exceptional cases (Pietromonaco, 2000). The stability of the internal working model is based on the fact that the attachment theory is based on assimilation principal which says that the first impressions, first hand experiences and solid perceptions are not vulnerable to changes expect in some extreme conditions. The internal working models are not limited to the outside world rather human a being also develops and internal working model about the self based on the interaction with fellow beings and experiences. For example, in the scenario, the internal working model of a child about himself is very much acceptable, respectable and worthwhile. This model of child is based upon the fact that he is accepted and loved by everyone. His every demand is completed his parents and his friends play with him every day (Horwath, 2010). On the contrary, if the relationship of a person is not good and the attachment lacks the sense of bonding and love then certainly, the internal working model of that person about himself will be that of neglected and pessimistic. The internal working model is in turn based on three types of personalities and the psychologies rate the internal working model of any human being by keeping in view and evaluating these models. The internal working model of anxious-ambivalent will be having some kind of pessimism about him and overall world as compared to a person having self esteem. Similarly, avoidant individuals have a volatile working model and they are on the negative course of action as compared to the secured human beings (Beckett, 2002). The internal working models are designed and explained in a hierarchal form of structure starting from generic level to specific level. The internal working models are not converged on one stance when the comprehensive details are investigated rather they are multifaceted and varies a lot from one personality to another. For example a person can have multiple working models at the same time depending upon conditions are orientations of the respective attachment theory. There are some clashes between the defined aspects of internal working models. The internal working models can be against the attachment theory at times in adult relationship and this goes against the conventional details which were explained by architect of this concept (Bracken & Thomas, 2006). In the same way there are no studies carried out by John Bowlby and other leading experts of internal working models about the changes and volatile structure of internal working model. What if a person have a pre defined internal working model since childhood and all of a sudden, a figure in the architectural hierarchy starts behaving opposite to what the process of the model anticipates (Hodges & Tizard, 1989). Many concepts in the explanations of internal working models are vague and imprecise and one cannot foresee the behavior of the processes involved with certainty. For example what is the role of affect on the gesticulation of internal working models? Is the working model representing a generalized concept about a human personality or it has to address the specific instances of a human personality. Internal working model would have been illustrating the human attachment and bonding issues in a better way if it is addressing the specific layers of a relationship. The generic behavior of human beings is vulnerable to sudden changes and there is not a specific way in which the human cognitive behaviors can be decoded. (Ayalon, 1996) Similarly, in our view, the internal working model should be related to some specified behaviors of a personality and an individual can have multiple working models, This concept is totally in accordance with social-cognitive conceptions of the self. The contextual background of a person and the nature of figures involved in his hierarchy of internal working models must be inculcated while examining and analyzing his personality other generalities can lead to wrong and absurd results. The relational context is very important and hold primary place while determining the attachment of an individual to others that will help to determine his role in the social work (Bakermans-Kranenburg & Van, 2009). This concept is supported by various psychologist and contemporary emergent views are also testifying the fact that situational context is the key in internal working models because general modeling is not useful in the modern psychological theories (Ogilvie & Ashmore, 1991).As the attachment behavior suggest that human beings attain proximity to other individuals based on the interaction in society so this behavior can vary from person to person.(Bowlby,1980). The secure base effect is the manifestation of the psyche of an infant and that is to get into the arms of mother whenever the child feels threat or harm from any other outside force of action. The similar things are developed into the human beings but with different and volatile figures in every frame of reference (Ainsworth, 1982). Impact on Social Work The impact of internal working models can be huge in social work and community welfare. The in depth knowledge of internal working models of human beings will help the social workers to help them in most optimal way and with less hindrances (Stone, 2000). If a social worker is equipped with sound knowledge of what is going on inside in mindset of society then he/ she can inquire about the problems of society in general and can help more productively. For example, if a social worker is lacking the knowledge about the internal working model of infants or left over babies then he will never be able to get to the spirit of the problems of left over children in the society. Similarly, while managing the problems of women, an NGO or welfare organization will be generative and gratifying if they are well aware of the internal working models of women in the society and what are the figures and processes which women feel secure and comfortable. This is the primary reason why the social work must be in accordance with the practices and knowledge of internal working model. Social constructionism is a very key factor which is being introduced in the internal working models which emphasize the importance of convergence the social works with respect to contextual details and respected backgrounds of people in order to ripe the fruits of efforts of social work (Burr, 1995). The concept of social construction is very different from conventional way and concepts of psychology as it strongly rejects the idea of “essentialism” in a society and argues that every society can be in turn divided into number of sub types based on the contextual references, creeds and breeds of people. No judgmental behavior is useful in the social work according to this theory in internal working model as it says that every individual can have volatile thoughts and priorities and societal factors are determined by individuals. The practical know-how of internal working models is of colossal importance when social work in the field of child care is discussed. Children are in dire need of care of social assistance throughout the world as there is an increasing rate of child abuse all over the world. The knowledge about internal working models and attachment bonding of children will not only help the social workers to assist the masses quickly but it will also help them to attain the results in less time For example, according to a research, the children who are not good at verbal communication and their contextual background lacks the speaking and communication skills are prone to fail in neuro-development that is required for speech or language learning (Cassidy & Shaver, 1999). The attachment theory also comes into play at this stage. According to a study in which infants were the focus, around 80% of the infants who were left over or harmed in some way had disorganized attachments or bonding with the figures in society whereas the other 20% had some strong bonding but they were also left over due to some unforeseen reasons and that is exactly, a loophole in internal working model we discussed above. The reasons in many cases remain vague. A very comprehensive and explanatory chart (Sheridan et al, 1997) depicting the developmental process of infants and babies made by MARY SHERIDAN is a very handy and useful tool that can help the social workers to have a basic but precise insight about the staged process of infant bonding and how they can be judged based on their movements. The narrative in this case is the body language and the social workers have to decide based on the movements of the infants as they cannot speak or demand anything. The problem with plan of action of internal working models in social work also lacks the practicality. Apart from children, how can the social workers meet the need of the field by deploying the vague and theoretical concepts of the internal working models? No doubt, they can evaluate and apprehend that personality and decide the course of action accordingly but that is something taken for granted by a smart social worker. Internal working model has no special role to play (Zimmermann, 1999). Psychological and emotional impact of discriminatory and oppressive social constructions The oppressive social constructions can be very painful experience in the life span of human beings. For example, a painter named Jennifer was under the oppressive conditions and she says that she could not enjoy the openness in the relationships and she could never communicate her feelings even with her husbands, there was oppression from start of her life (Holmes, 1993). The internal working model of this painter will also be negative and the psychological and emotional impact will be pessimistic throughout the life. Similarly if there is an infant who was leftover, beaten by his parents then the emotional impact will be huge in the negative sense and this will make the child of rebellious nature in the future of his life. A term “Psychopathology” is used to illustrate the negative effects of a personality which is the direct consequences of the deviant pathways which he chose either by choice or was forced to follow them as a result of oppressive contextual background in his child hood (Watson et al, 1994). Similarly, the emotional effects are very detrimental in these cases as the human being feel left over all of his life except for a very few cases. Many studies indicate that the upbringing in positive emotional environments can groom the personality of a person in very decisive way in optimal sense. This is the reason why many psychologists say that the parents should try to up bring the child in his early ages at home rather than in institutional environment or boarding schools. (Sampson, 1993) The internal working models and their impact in social work are prodigious and monumental. They are playing a key and decisive role in upbringing the human beings. The contemporary theorists are of the view that more precise stringent works are needed to be done in this spectrum of psychology in order to enhance the magnitude of effect of these models on society. The internal working models and attachment theories are no longer a bookish concept rather there is a staunch exigency of its practical application in social work. ReferencesTop of Form Bottom of Form Top of Form Bottom of Form Ayalon, A. (1996). Attachment and Internal Working Models - Guy Doron - psych-it.com.au. [online] Retrieved from: http://www.psych-it.com.au/theses/article.asp?page=204 [Accessed: 14 Jan 2013]. Bakermans-Kranenburg, M.J., & van IJzendoorn, M.H. (2009). The first 10,000 Adult Attachment Interviews: Distributions of adult attachment representations in clinical and non-clinical groups.Attachment & Human Development, 11(3), 223–263. Beckett, C. (2002) Human Growth & Development. Sage Bowlby J (1998) Separation (No.2). Plimlico. London  Bowlby , J. 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Zimmermann, P. (1999). Structure and functions of internal working models of attachment and their role for emotion regulation. Attachment & human development, 1(3), 291-306. Read More