Working Models of Friendships

The purpose of this study was to determine if a narrative technique based on the Adult Attachment Interview could be used for studying working models of friendships. A Friendship Interview was developed and administered to a sample of 68 high school seniors. Theoretically coherent factors reflecting friendship experiences and working models were obtained. Ratings of dyadic support from friends were related to secure working models, and inversely related to dismissing working models. Ratings of friend controlling-self dependent behavior and self controlling-friend dependent behavior were related to preoccupied working models. Ratings of experiences in friendships were related to self-perceptions of friendships. Working models were related to self-perceptions of relational styles and attachment styles.