Attachment: Bowlby’s Theory

Question 1

What did Bowlby propose?

Answer 1

Proposed an evolutionary explanation that attachment is innate which gave a survival advantage.

Question 2

What is Bowlby’s monotropic theory about?
- How may this attachment differ from others?

Answer 2

• Emphasis on one particular caregiver, the mother (might not be biological)
• This attachment is different and more important from others

Question 3

In Bowbly’s monotropic theory, the more time spent with PAF = __________

Answer 3

more time spent with PAF = the better

Question 4

What does the law of continuity state?

Answer 4

The more constant and predictable a child’s care is, the better quality attachment.

Question 5

What does the law of accumulated separation state?

Answer 5

Stated that the effects of separation from the mother build up. Therefore ensure that there is no separation if possible.

Question 6

What are social releasers?

Answer 6

Babies were born with:
- An innate set of ‘cute behaviours’ (e.g. smiling, cooing, and gripping) that encourage attention from adults

Question 7

What is the purpose of social releasers?

Answer 7

To activate the adult attachment system (i.e. make an adult feel love towards the baby)

Question 8

Both mother and the baby have an ______ ____________ to become _________
- What triggers this response?

Answer 8

Both mother and the baby have an innate predisposition to become attached
- Social releasers trigger that response in caregivers.

Question 9

What is the critical period when the infant attachment system is active?

Answer 9

2 years

Question 10

What happens if an attachment is not formed during the infant’s critical period?

Answer 10

The child will find it much harder to form layter attachments.

Question 11

What does the internal working model state?
- Why is it called ‘internal working model’?

Answer 11

That a child forms a mental representation of their relationship with their primary caregiver.
- It serves as a model for what relationships are like.