explanations of attachment: Bowlby's monotropic theory

Question 1

why did Bowlby reject learning theory as an explanation for attachment

Answer 1

“were it true, an infant of a year or 2 should readily take to whomever feeds him but this sis not the case”

Question 2

define attachment

Answer 2

an innate system that gives us a survival advantage

Question 3

why is Bowlby’s theory monotropic

Answer 3

he placed a great emphasis on a particular caregiver

Question 4

name the 2 laws put forward by bowlby

Answer 4

law of continuity
law of accumulated separation

Question 5

define the law of continuity

Answer 5

the more constant and predictable a child’s care the stronger the attachment

Question 6

define the law of accumulated separation

Answer 6

the effects of separation from the mother add up

the safest dose is to not to have any separation

Question 7

define social releasers

Answer 7

behaviors (smiling, cooing, gripping) which are used to activate the attachment system in both adult and child to promote an attachment to be formed

Question 8

define critical/sensitive period

Answer 8

the time in which an attachment should be formed

children are maximally sensitive from 6 months to 2

if an attachment is not formed in this period it is harder for an attachment to be formed

Question 9

define internal working model

Answer 9

Bowlby proposed that a child forms a mental representation of their relationship with their primary attachment figure

this is because it serves as a model for what relationships are like. which affects a child’s ability to parent

Question 10

who was Bowlby influenced by

Answer 10

Freud and the ethological theory

Question 11

why does Bowlby suggest children form attachments

Answer 11

they are innately pre-programmed to form attachments