ATTACHMENT :Bowlby's Theory

Question 1

What did Bowlby Reject

Answer 1

Learning theory by Dollard and Miller

Question 2

Why did Bowlby reject the learning theory

Answer 2

if it were true an babies would attach to whoever feeds them. which clearly in’t the case

Question 3

What did Bowlby look to Lorenz and Harlow for?

Answer 3

ideas

Question 4

From looking at Lorenz and Harlow for ideas what did he propose

Answer 4

evalutionary explenation

attachment innate system - gives a survival advantage

Question 5

So attachment like imprinting…..

Answer 5

evolved as a mechanism to keep young animals safe through ensuring they stay close to caregivers

Question 6

Why is Bowlby’s theory described as monotropic

Answer 6

he placed lots of emphasis on a childs attachmetn to this one particular caregiver

Question 7

What did bowlby belive about the attachment to this one caregiver

Answer 7

it’s different and more imiportant than the others

Question 8

Bowlby called the one particular caregiver a mother but what do we know now

Answer 8

the particular caregiver doesn’t need to be

the biological mother or a woman

Question 9

What is the mother now called

Answer 9

primary caregiver

Question 10

Bowlby believed the more time a baby spent with the primary caregiver …..

Answer 10

.. the better

Question 11

What were the two laws put forward to clarify the more timen a baby spent with its primary caregiver the better

Answer 11

law of continuity

law of accumulated seperation

Question 12

What is the law of continuity

Answer 12

the more constant and predictable a childs care

, the better quality of their attachment

Question 13

What is the law of accumulated seperation

Answer 13

the effect of every seperation from the mother adds up and therefore the safest does is 0

Question 14

What are social releasers

Answer 14

innate ‘cute’ behaviours babies are born with such as cooing that encourage attention from adults

Question 15

Explain why social releasers are called social releasers

Answer 15

purpose - ellicit an adult social interactrion

therefore make the adult attach to the baby

Question 16

Bowlby recognised attachment was a x process

Answer 16

reciprocal process

Question 17

the mother and baby are what to become attached

Answer 17

hard wired

Question 18

what does the interplay between baby and adult attachment systems do

Answer 18

gradually builds relationship

between baby and caregiver

starting in early weks of life

Question 19

When is the critical period developing

Answer 19

around 6 motnsh when the child’s attachment system is active

Question 20

But bowlby viewed the critical period as a

Answer 20

more sensitive period

Question 21

A child is maximally sensitive at

Answer 21

6 months

Question 22

A child’s maximal sensitivity possibly extends up to the age of

Answer 22

2

Question 23

If an attachment isn’t formed betwen 6 months - 2 years of age what will happen

Answer 23

a child will find it harder to form attachments later

Question 24

What is the internal working model

Answer 24

concept proposed by Bowlby

child forms amental representation of relationship with their primary attachment figure

Question 25

Why is the internal wokring model called an internal working model

Answer 25

serves as a model for what relationships are like

Question 26

What expectation will a child who’s first experience is of a loving relationship with a reliable caregiver form

Answer 26

all relationships are as loving and reliable

and they will bring these qualities into future relationshiops

Question 27

what will a child who’s first relationship involves poor treatment form relationships/expect/dp

Answer 27

form further relationships which they expect poor treatment from others

treat other poorly

Question 28

Most importantly what does the IWM affect

Answer 28

child’s later ability to be a parent

Question 29

What do people tend to base their parenting behaviour on (1)

Answer 29

their own experiences being parented

Question 30

therefore children from functional families (2)

Answer 30

have similar families themselves

Question 31

aWhat is the negative evauation point

Answer 31

concept of monotropy lacks validity

Question 32

b What is the explanation/evidence to support monotropy lacking validit

Answer 32

schaffer and emerson agreed most babies formed an atttachment to a specific caregiver first
but there was a significant minority in which the formed multiple attachments at the same time

additionally although the first attachment majorly influence other relationships this shows its stronger and not necessarily better quality from other attachments

e.g attachments to family members provide all the same key qualities e,g emotional support

Question 33

c What does the evidence show

Answer 33

that there isn’t a unique quality and importance to the child’s primary attachment