internal working model of attachment

a cognitive construction or set of assumptions about the workings of relationships, such as expectations of support or affection. The earliest relationships may form the template for this internal model, which may be positive or negative. See also attachment theory. [originally proposed by John Bowlby]

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Psychology term of the day

December 23rd 2024

depressive spectrum

the range of severity and disparate symptoms that characterize depressive disorders. The underlying concept is that depression is a continuum of related disorders, rather than a single diagnostic entity.