Attachement - Bowlbys Theory Of Attachment Flashcards
What did Bowlby propose
He proposed an evolutionary explanation that attachment was an innate system that gave a survival advantage
How did imprinting and attachment evolve ?
They ensure that young animals stay close to their caregivers and this protects them from hazards
What is monotropy
Bowlby put great emphasis on child’s attachment to one particular caregiver
This caregiver is more important and different than others
Called ‘mother’
What two laws did Bowlby produce
Law of continuity - more constant and predictable a childs care the better quality of their attachment
Law of accumulated separation - effects of every separation from the ‘mother’ adds up safest dose is zero dose
More time spent with caregiver the better
Explain social releases
Babies born with innate ‘cute’ behaviours like smiling . Cooing and griping that encourage attention from adults
- activate adult attachment system
Why did Bowlby propose social releasers theory
Attachment was a reciprocal process
Both mother and baby have pre disposition to become attached
Social releasers allow it to happen
What did Bowlby propose about critical period
Critical period around two years when infant attachment system is active
Sensitive period - if an attachment not formed int is time then child will find it harder to form later on
Explain internal working model
When child forms an internal mental representation of their relationship with their primary caregiver. This serves as model for what future relationships are like
How does the internal working model actually affect future experiences
First experience - loving with reliable caregiver
Future relationship - expectation of loving and reliable relationship
First experience - poor treatment
Future relationships - form poor, expect poor treatment , treat other poorly
What do pople tend to base their own behaviour on ?
Their own parenting experience
Children from functional families tend to have similar families themselves
What is a limitation of monotropy
Mixed evidence
Mixed support for monotropic attachment
Bowlby believed babies form one attachment to primary caregiver
This was special
Only after can other multiple attachments form
Not supported
Schaffer and Emerson
Did attach to one person first but significant minority able to form multiple attachments at same time
First attachment may not be as important when it comes to forming other attachments
What is a strength for social releasers
There is research to support importance of social releasers
Brazelton et al 1975
Observed mothers and babies during their interactions
Reporting the existence of interactional synchrony
Extended observation -> experiment
Primary attachment ignore baby signals
Baby initially showed distress but after continuous ignoring
Curling up, lied motionless
Cute infant behaviours intended to initiate social interaction
In Doing so important for baby
Fails - affects baby greatly
What is strength for internal working models ?
There is research to support the idea of an internal working model.
Ef bailey et al assessed 99 mothers with 1 year old babies on the quality of their attachment with own mother
Used standard interview procedure
Researchers also assessed attachment of babies to mothers by observation
Those reported poor attachments to own parents in interview were more likely to have children classed as poor in observation
Supports idea that patterns of attachment will be passed from one generation to another
What is a limitation of monotropy (socially sensitive)
Monotropy is a controversial socially sensitive idea
Creates major problems for lifestyle choices mothers make when children young.
Law of accumulated separation states have a long time apart from primary attachment risks poor quality attachment
Disadvantage the child
Feminists argue this put terrible responsibility on mothers, setting them up to take the blame if anything goes wrong
Forcing them into a particular lifestyle
Eg not returning to work
