attachment - bowlbys monotropic theory

Question 1

adaptive - AO1

Answer 1

• bowlby suggets attachment is innate
• inherited as survival advantages so it is ‘adaptive’
• infants and parents both programmed to attach

Question 2

social releasers - AO1

Answer 2

• infants have ‘social releasers’ e.g. crying/smiling/looking ‘cute’
• triggers response by caregiver
• ensures interaction takes place

Question 3

monotropy - AO1

Answer 3

• bowlby places great emphasis on infants attaching to one attachment figure
• most cases mother, but not biological mother
• most important in childs development
• law of continuity = best quality of attachment when child receives consistent and predictable care
• law of accumulated separation = poor quality of attachment when substantial periods of separation from monotropy

Question 4

internal working model - AO1

Answer 4

• IWM = ‘mental representation’ of what relationship is like with primary caregiver
• acts as a model/template for what future relationships are like
• child uses attachment relationship with caregiver as expectation of future relationships
• powerful impact on future relationships with peers/romantic relationships/own children they MIRROR childhood attachments
• passed on through generations
• people base own parenting on how they were parented

Question 5

research to support - AO3
Lorenz

COUNTER ARGUEMENT

Answer 5

P - RTS
- comes from Lorenz

E - lorenz found goslings have critical period of 12-17 hours after hatching where they must imprint
- or may not attach at all

E - supports bowlbys idea of critical period
- first 2.5 years of life
- or infant may not attach at all

L - strengthens bowlbys idea of critical period

COUNTER ARGUEMENT
- research conducted on goslings
- human behaviour = more complex
- may not be representative of human attachment behaviour

Question 6

Research to contradict - AO3
Shaffer and emerson

DISCUSSION

Answer 6

P - RTC
- schaffer and Emerson

E - schaffer and Emerson found multiple attachments
- beneficial for infants social, emotional and cognitive development

E - contradicts monotropic theory
- idea that there infants attach to one attachment figure

L - limiting monotropic theory

DISCUSSION
- schaffer and Emerson suggested specific attachment forms before multiple attachments
- in 65% cases with mother
- somewhat supports idea of monotropy

Question 7

Weakness - AO3
alternative explanation

Answer 7

P - alternative explanation
- learning theory

E - suggets attachment due to stimuli, response, associations

E - not attachment being innate
- and triggering caring response in caregivers

L - weakens bowlbys explanation
- not the only explanation

Question 8

critical period - AO1

Answer 8

• biological period
• if attachment does not take place in first 2.5 years of life
• may not take place at all