At - Explanations of attachment: Bowlby's theory

Question 1

What is the continuity hypothesis?

Answer 1

The idea that emotionally secure infants go on to be emotionally secure, trusting and socially confident adults.

Question 2

What is the critical period?

Answer 2

A biologically determined period of time, during which certain characteristics can develop. Outside of this time window, such development will not be possible.

Question 3

What is montropy (monotropic)?

Answer 3

The idea that the one relationship that the infant has with his/her primary attachment figure is of special significance in emotional development.

Question 4

What is a social releaser?

Answer 4

A social behaviour or characteristic that elicits caregiving and leads to attachment.

Question 5

What kind of perspective does Bowlby’s theory take?

Answer 5

An evolutionary perspective.

Question 6

What is the main principle of Bowlby’s theory?

Answer 6

Strong attachment and the consequences of such attachment are adaptive.

Question 7

What is Bowlby’s notion of adaptiveness based on?

Answer 7

Darwin’s Theory of Evolution which states that any genetically determined behaviour that enhances an individual’s survival (and reproduction) will be naturally selected.

Question 8

When did Bowlby propose his monotropic attachment theory?

Answer 8

1969

Question 9

Why did attachment forms according to Bowlby’s theory?

Answer 9

Lorenz’s research on imprinting led to Bowlby assuming that a similar process was operating in humans, Attachment behaviour evolved because it serves an important survival function - an infant who is not attached is less well protected.

Question 10

Explain Bowlby’s thought of why it is important that attachments are formed in 2 directions

Answer 10

Parents must also be attached to their infants in order to ensure that they are cared for and survive. It is only the parents who look after their offspring that are likely to produce subsequent generations.

Question 11

How did Bowlby say attachments were formed?

Answer 11

Babies have an innate drive to attach and in a specific time period (the critical period).

He proposed that attachment is determined by sensitivity.

Question 12

How long did Bowlby say the critical period for attachment was?

Answer 12

3-6 months.

Question 13

Who were Bowlby’s views influenced by?

Answer 13

Mary Ainsworth

Question 14

What was it that Mary Ainsworth suggested that influenced Bowlby to think attachment was down to sensitivity?

Answer 14

Her observations of mothers led her to suggest that the infants who seemed most strongly attached were the ones whose mothers were more responsive, more cooperative and more accessible than less closely attached infants.

Question 15

Why are social releasers important in the critical period in which attachments form?

Answer 15

To ensure that attachments develop from parent to infant.

Question 16

Bowlby proposed that infants have one special emotional bond - what is this called?

Answer 16

Monotropy.

Question 17

What do secondary attachments provide for an infant?

Answer 17

An important emotional safety net and are important for healthy psychological and social development.

Question 18

What is the importance of monotropy?

Answer 18

An infant has one special relationship called an internal working model that has several consequences.

Question 19

What are the consequences of the internal working model?

Answer 19

In the short term it gives the child insight into the caregiver’s behaviour and enables the child to influence the caregiver’s behaviour, so that a true partnership can be formed.

In the long term it acts as a template for all future relationships because it generates expectations about what intimate, loving relationship are like.

Question 20

What does the continuity hypothesis propose?

Answer 20

That individuals who are strongly attached in infancy continue to be socially and emotionally competent whereas infants who are not strongly attached have more social and emotional difficulties in childhood and adulthood.