Bowlby's monotropic theory Flashcards
Burger for critical period (Bowlby monotropic theory, expl of attachment)
B: Bowlby proposed a critical period for attachment formation.
U: Attachments are most likely to form between 3-6 months; after this, forming attachments becomes increasingly difficult.
R: Bowlby’s idea was influenced by Lorenz’s concept of imprinting, suggesting attachment behaviors are biologically timed.
G: Strength: Emphasizes the biological basis of attachment, showing attachment as essential for survival.
E: Reinforces the importance of early caregiving for social development.
R: Weakness: Rutter et al. suggested this is more of a sensitive period, as attachments can still form later, though with more difficulty.
Burger for social releasers (Bowlby monotropic theory, expl of attachment)
B: Bowlby introduced social releasers as behaviors that encourage caregiving responses.
U: Infants’ behaviors, like crying or smiling, trigger adult caregiving behaviors, which help ensure attachment forms.
R: These releasers are seen as biologically ingrained signals to secure the caregiver’s attention and support.
G: Strength: Provides an evolutionary explanation for attachment behaviors, linking them to infant survival.
E: Highlights how infant behaviors are crucial for activating caregiving responses in adults.
R: Weakness: Not all infants display strong social releasers, yet most still form attachments, suggesting other factors are at play.
burger for the internal working model (Bowlby monotropic theory, expl of attachment)
B: Bowlby proposed the internal working model as a mental template for future relationships.
U: Early attachments form a blueprint for later relationships, supporting continuity in social behaviors.
R: Sroufe et al. supported the continuity hypothesis, showing that securely attached children tend to have better social skills later.
G: Strength: Emphasizes the long-term influence of early attachments on relationship patterns.
E: Valuable for understanding the lasting impact of caregiving in shaping social development.
R: Weakness: Kagan’s temperament hypothesis suggests that innate temperament, not attachment, may be the primary factor in later relationships.
