Attachment: Explanations for attachment - Bowlby's theory

Question 1

What is the continuity hypothesis?

Answer 1

The idea that emotionally secure infants go on to be emotionally secure, trusting and socially confident adults.

Question 2

What is the critical period?

Answer 2

A biologically determined period of time, during which certain characteristics can develop. Outside of this window such development isn’t possible.

Question 3

What is the internal working model?

Answer 3

a mental model of the world which enables individuals to predict + control their environment - - -> in regards to attachment this relates to the persons expectations about relationships

Question 4

What is monotropy?

Answer 4

The idea that one relationship that an infant has with their primary attachment figure is of special significance in emotional development.

Question 5

What is a social releaser?

Answer 5

a social behaviour/ characteristic that elicits caregiving and leads to attachment.

Question 6

According to Bowlby’s monotropic theory, why are attachments formed.

Answer 6

Attachment behaviour evolved because it serves as an important survival function (adaptive). -> an infant who isn’t attached is less well protected. It’s important if attachments are formed in 2 directions:
1)Child attaching to parent (for survival)
2)Parent attaching to child (to ensure survival)

Question 7

According to Bowlby’s monotropic theory, how are attachments formed.

Answer 7

Critical period —> babies have an innate drive to become attached.
The critical period for attachment is approx. 3-6 months. Infants who fail to form attachment during this period have difficulty forming them later on.
Bowlby proposed that attachment is determined by sensitivity as Ainswoth’s observations of mothers suggested that infants who were most strongly attached had mothers who were more cooperative, responsive + accessible.

Question 8

According to Bowlby’s monotropic theory, why are social releasers important?

Answer 8

Ensures that attachments develop from parent to infant.

Question 9

Why is montorpy a key feature of Bowlby’s theory?

Answer 9

Bowlby proposed that infants have 1 special emotional bond (primary attachment figure) which is often the biological mother.
Infants also form many secondary attachments which provide important emotional safety + are imperative for psychological + social development.

Question 10

According to Bowlby’s monotropic theory, what are the consequences of attachment?

Answer 10

Results in the development of the internal working model of the primary attachment figure.
Short term: gives the child insight into the caregiver’s behaviour + enables the child to influence the caregiver’s behaviour allowing a close relationship.
Long term: acts as a template for future relationships (continuity hypothesis).

Question 11

What is the adaptive element of Bowlby’s theory?

Answer 11

an innate tendency to form attachments with a primary caregiver. Gives an adaptive advantage making us more likely to survive —> helps the infant keep safe, warm and get food.

-Evolutionary roots
Adaptive
Social releasers
Critical period

-Psychodynamic roots
Monotropic
Internal working model

Question 12

What are the 4 AO3 points for Bowlby’s monotropic theory?

Answer 12

Critical period has been adapted
+Supporting research for the continuity hypothesis
+Supporting research - adaptive
-Culturally relative

Question 13

(AO3) How has the critical period been adapted?

Answer 13

Renamed the ‘sensitive period’. Rutter found that attachments will form outside of this period but it’s more difficult. The critical period is where infants are most receptive but it’s not as clear cut as Bowlby suggested.

Question 14

(+AO3) What was the supporting for the continuity hypothesis?

Answer 14

Hazan + Shaver ‘love quiz’ showed a positive correlation between attachment type + later love experiences e.g. people who were securely attached infants had longer, happier love experiences.

Question 15

(+AO3) What was the supporting evidence for the theory being adaptive?

Answer 15

Attachment during 3-6 months is very late as a mechanism for survival compared to other mammals. In our distant ancestors it may have been vital for an infant to become attached soon after they’re born for example, monkeys cling to their mothers straight after birth therefore, suggesting that attachment age is linked to the features of a species life (human infants don’t need to cling to their mothers because they can be carried) however, when human infants start crawling attachment is vital + that’s when attachment is formed. Therefore supporting Bowlby’s view that attachment is adaptive

Question 16

Culturally relative

Answer 16

Ijzendoorn and Kroonenberg found that Monotropy is less common in collectivist cultures as it’s more common for infants in those cultures to have multiple attachment figures. Therefore, Monotropy may not be as universal as Bowlby expected + may not be innate.