attachment - bowlby's theory

Question 1

What did Bowlby suggest about attachment?

Answer 1

Bowlby suggested that attachment is an innate (unlearned, instinctual) process, which is evolutionarily beneficial - those infants that did become attached would be more likely to be cared for by an adult, therefore more likely to survive and pass on this behaviour genetically.

Question 2

What are the long term effects of maternal deprivation?

Answer 2

Irreversible, long term cognitive, social and emotional difficulties.
includes reduced intelligence, depression and affectionless psychopathy.

Question 3

Describe affectionless psychopathy

Answer 3

Inability to show remorse, affection, act on impulse, show no guilt for antisocial behaviour.

Question 4

Describe 44 thieves study procedure

Answer 4

Aimed to investigate long term effects of maternal deprivation.

88 children, 44 thieves, 44 control

Had IQ tested.
Interviewed by social worker for early life.
Interviewed by Bowlby with caregiver.

Question 5

Findings of Bowlby’s 44 thieves study

Answer 5

• More than half thieves separated for more than 6 months from mother in past.
• In control group only 2 separated.
• 14 out of the 44 young thieves showed affectionless psychopathy. - None of control group did.
• Nearly all affectionless psychopaths had experienced separation.

Question 6

Conclusion of 44 thieves

Answer 6

• Disruption in attachment early in life is linked to crime, lower academic achievement and emotional maladjustment.
• Strongly supports MDH

Question 7

What is Bowlby’s maternal deprivation hypothesis?

Answer 7

A warm, intimate and continuous relationship with a mother figure is necessary for healthy psychological/emotional development.

Question 8

evaluation of maternal deprivation hypothesis - practical applications

Answer 8

MDH highlights importance of early attachments.
E.g. in Sweden, over a year of paternal leave, highlighting support for children’s early attachment experiences.
Strength as research has had positive real life effect, and has been valuable.

Question 9

Evaluation of Bowlby’s 44 thieves study - investigator effects

Answer 9

• Bowlby designed and conducted the interviews with carer + child himself and as a result, his presence and interpretation might have influenced the outcome of the research.
• Bowlby’s diagnosis of affectionless psychopathy might have been distorted by researcher confirmation bias.

Question 10

evaluation of 44 thieves study - correlational

Answer 10

Bowlby found a relationship between early separation and affectionless psychopathy but we cannot definitely conclude that the separation was the cause.
It may be the cause of the separation e.g. neglect and abuse that caused the problems, not the separation itself.

Question 11

evaluation of bowlby’s theory - socially sensitive

Answer 11

The idea of monotropy is ‘socially sensitive’ (there are social consequences of the theory). It places a great deal of pressure on the primary attachment figure (usually the mother) to form sensitive, loving, nurturing attachments with their children, otherwise the rest of the child’s life may be negatively affected. Some theorists have criticised this, especially from a feminist perspective.

Question 12

What is the law of continuity in Bowlby’s attachment theory?

Answer 12

more constant and predictable child’s care, the better quality of the attachment

Question 13

What is the law of accumulated separation in Bowlby’s attachment theory?

Answer 13

effects of every caregiver/infant separation add up, so best dose is zero

Question 14

Evaluate internal working model - Minnesota

Answer 14

Minnesota parent-child study showed securely attached children were more popular, empathetic and could make friends easier than insecurely attached children when in adolescence.
Supports Bowlby

Question 15

What did Bowlby say about monotropy in his attachment theory?

Answer 15

Bowlby suggested that it is important for infants to have one primary attachment figure whom they have a close bond with. Usually this is the mother, although this is not essential.

This is because it allows for continuous, consistent care (law of continuity), and that it keeps separations from the primary caregiver to a minimum (law of accumulated separation).

Question 16

What did Bowlby say about the critical period in his attachment theory?

Answer 16

Bowlby proposed that an infant must form an attachment within the first 2 years of life - once this passes, an attachment can never be formed (or at least, it will be very difficult). During this time, infants are particularly sensitive to forming attachments.

He later revised his theory and proposed a sensitive period (where an attachment can still form, although it takes longer) of up to 5 years.

Question 17

What did Bowlby say about social releasers in his attachment theory?

Answer 17

These are innate infant behaviours and characteristics which encourage an innate nurturing response from an adult (linking to the idea of attachment as reciprocal).
Social releasers include ‘cute’ facial features, such as big eyes and a small nose, or crying, which is unpleasant and triggers a drive to stop it in the adult.

Question 18

Outline the internal working model in Bowlby’s attachment theory

Answer 18

This is the concept that a child’s attachment to a caregiver provides them with a ‘model’ of what relationships are like and how they work.

Therefore, if they form a loving, sensitive attachment then they will bring these qualities to other relationships they have in later life, with friends and romantic partners.

The opposite is also true- if the quality of attachment is poor, then they are likely to have poor relationships with others in the future. This also applies to their own skills as a future parent

Question 19

Key points for Bowlby’s attachment theory

Answer 19

• Innate
• Monotropy
• Maternal deprivation hypothesis
• Social releasers
• Critical period
• Internal working model