Attachment - Explanation of attachment : Bowlby's theory Flashcards
What is monotropy?
The concept that infants have an innate capacity and drive to attach to one primary caregiver or attachment figure.
What is the law of continuity?
The more constant & predicable a child’s care is the better the quality if attachment
What is the law of accumulated separation?
The effects of every separation from the mother adds up
What is the internal working model?
A mental representation of a child’s relationship with their primary caregiver which provides a template for future relationships and can affect their treatment of others & their parenting behaviour.
What is the critical period for humans?
Around 2 years
How are babies social releaser?
They are born with innate cute behaviours like cooing, smiling & gripping which encourage adult attention.
Weakness 1: Monotropy
P (Point): The theory of monotropy suggests that infants form a primary attachment to a single caregiver, typically the mother. However, this perspective is limited as research indicates that infants can develop multiple attachments.
E (Evidence): Schaffer and Emerson (1964) conducted a longitudinal study on Glaswegian infants and found that many babies formed multiple attachments beyond a single primary caregiver. By the age of 18 months, 31% of the infants had five or more attachment figures, including fathers, grandparents, and other caregivers.
E (Explanation): This evidence challenges the concept of monotropy, demonstrating that infants are capable of forming several significant attachments that play an important role in their social and emotional development. While a primary attachment may be important, these findings suggest that other attachments are also crucial, thereby undermining the idea that one attachment is uniquely superior or central in the attachment process.
L (Link): Therefore, the theory of monotropy may not fully explain the complexity of attachment behaviours in infants, as it overlooks the importance of multiple attachments in a child’s development. This suggests that attachment theories should consider the broader network of relationships that contribute to a child’s growth, rather than focusing solely on a single attachment figure.
Strength 1 : Internal working model (IWM)
P (Point): The concept of the internal working model is a key feature in attachment theory, suggesting that early attachments form a blueprint for future relationships. The internal working model is considered testable because it predicts how attachment styles are passed from one generation to the next.
E (Evidence): Bailey et al. (2007) conducted a study that assessed 99 mothers with one-year-old babies. Through interviews, they assessed the mothers’ attachment to their own mothers and observed the attachment between the mothers and their babies. The study found that mothers who reported poor attachment with their own mothers were more likely to have children who were classified as having poor attachment styles.
E (Explanation): This study supports the idea of the internal working model by demonstrating how attachment patterns can be transmitted across generations. The mothers’ internal working models, shaped by their own early attachments, influenced how they interacted with their children, leading to similar attachment outcomes. This supports Bowlby’s theory that our early attachments form a template for future relationships and parenting behaviours.
L (Link): Therefore, the internal working model provides a useful framework for understanding how attachment styles are developed and maintained across generations, highlighting its importance in both psychological theory and practice. This finding underscores the value of early intervention in parent-child relationships to promote healthier attachment patterns.
Why is the internal working model considered testable?
It is testable because it predicts how attachment styles are passed from one generation to the next.
Strength 2 : Research support of babies as social releasers
P: Research supports the idea that babies are social releasers, initiating social interactions to elicit caregiving responses from adults.
E: Brazelton et al. observed interactions between babies and mothers, noting the presence of interactional synchrony and reciprocity. When mothers ignored their babies’ social cues, the babies initially showed distress. Some eventually responded by curling up and lying motionless.
E: The findings show that babies actively seek to engage with their caregivers and become distressed when these efforts are ignored, highlighting their role as social releasers.
L: It supports the idea that infants are biologically predisposed to form attachments, as they instinctively use behaviours like crying and smiling to elicit caregiving and ensure their survival.
