Bowlby- attachment theory

Question 1

What is Bowlby’s attachment theory?

Answer 1

• evolutionary basis

- attachment is formed for babies to survive- caregiver will protect and feed child

Question 2

what are the characteristics of bowlby’s attachment theory?

Answer 2

A-attachment
S-social releasers
C-critical period
M-monotropy
I-internal working model

Question 3

EVALUATION- Bowlby’s attachment theory supporting evidence

Answer 3

Lorenz- baby geese go through imprinting and the critical period- supporting critical period and the evolution basis
Harlow-showed deprivation effect’s monkeys exploration, socialisation and confidence
Bowlby 44 thieves- demonstrates seperation causes delinquency and affectionless psychopathy
Hazan&Shaver- IWM supported- adult relationships do match childhood (when measured via self report)

Question 4

EVALUATION- Bowlby’s attachment theory Conflicting evidence

Answer 4

Shaffer&Emerson- evidence that multiple attachments were formed- conflicts monotropy

Question 5

EVALUATION-Bowlby’s theory of attachment Usefulness evidence

Answer 5

+can help parents form attachments with their babies

• reductionist- attachment only made for survival
• socially sensitive- assumes mother i primary caregiver, infers that caregiver shouldn’t work when child is young
• outdated theory- modern society e.g women’s tole

Question 6

EVALUATION-Bowlby’s theory of attachment Other evidence

Answer 6

Learning theories- operant conditioning, positive reinforcement

Question 7

EVALUATION-Bowlby’s theory of attachment Testability

Answer 7

evolutionary function- hard to test

retrospective

Question 8

What are social releasers?

Answer 8

social releasers are behaviours such as babies crying, smiling laughing
social releasers make the caregiver stay proximate to the child and care for them

Question 9

what’s the baby face hypothesis?

Answer 9

babies have cute and loveable features that make the caregiver want to love and interact with the child

Question 10

what is the critical period?

Answer 10

attachment needs to occur in this period for a healthy normal human to emerge (seperation causes emotional and intellectual issues-affectionless psychopathy)

Question 11

when is the critical period?

Answer 11

0-2.5years

Question 12

what is monotropy?

Answer 12

one important bond is formed- usually mother

Question 13

what is the secure/safe base in bowlby’s attachment theory?

Answer 13

using parent as a safe base to explore and interact with the world

Question 14

what is the internal working model?

Answer 14

early relationship becomes a schema for future relationships- how you expect to be treated from early relationship experience