Attatchment - Bowlby Monotropic Flashcards
What is Bowlbys Monotropic Theory of Attatchment?
1958-1969
Evolutionary explanation: attachment is an innate system that gives us a survival advantage. Imprinting+attachment evolved bc they ensure young animals stay close to caregivers who protect from hazards.
Mono-tropic because of the emphasis the child is attached to one caregiver. diff from others and most important. Monotropic = primary attachment figure.
He believed more time mother figure spent with baby the better bc (1) law of continuity better qual attachment the more care. (2) law of accumulated separation - the effects of every separation add up so safest dose is zero dose.
What are social releasers?
Babies are born with a set of innate ‘cute’ behaviours (smiling, cooing and gripping) that encourages attention from adults.
purpose of social releasers is to activate adult attachment system (make adult feel love towards baby) bowlby recognised attachment is a reciprocal system
what is critical period
critical period of ab 2 yrs when infant attachment system is active
viewed this as more of a sensitive period
if an attachment is not formed within this time the child will find it much harder to from one later
what is internal working model
1st attachment forms internal working model of relationships
argues: children form a mental representation of the relationship w their primary attachment fig. the internal working model serves as a ‘template’ for what relationships are like.
a child whos first experience is of a loving relationship, they will expect that from all relationships same with poor treated ones
the internal working model may also affect the child later on as parents
why is monotropy socially sensitive
socially sensitive bc of implications for mothers lifestyle.
law of accumulated separation states having substantial time apart from prim attachment figure risks poor qual attachment which can disadvantage child
feminist - burman 1994 - argue mothers always get blame when anything goes wrong in childs life and pushes them into making lifestyle choices like not returning to work after having a child
howverr not bowlbys intention he saw himself boosting status of mothers by emphasising importance
Limiation - evi for monotropy is mixed
schaffer n emerson found most babies did attach to one person at first but a significant minority formed multiple attachments at the same time.
contradicts bowlbys assertion that babies from 1 attachment to a primary caregiver + its unique.
attachments to mothers not father better predict later behaviour and this may be bc mother is primary attahcmnet figure not bc of attachment quality
strength: support for internal working model
bailey et al 2007 studied 99 mothers those w poor attachment to own parents were likely to have 1 yr olds who were poorly attached
supports bowlbys internal working model as passed through gens onwards
