bowlby's monotropic theory Flashcards
explain what is meant by ‘attachment is adaptive’
● attachment is an innate (i.e born) process whereby infants carers are pre programmed to become attached to each other
● gives survival advantage as babies need to be close to their caregivers so they will look after and protect them
explain what is meant by ‘babies are born with social releasers’
● bowlby suggests babies are born with innate ‘cute’ behaviours / traits (e.g. large eyes, cooing )
● these encourage attention from adults and activates the adult attachment system (makes adult feel love toward the baby)
explain what is meant by the ‘critical theory’
● bowl by suggested that there is a critical period of around 2 years which child needs to form an attachment (most sensitive up to 6 months)
● if attachment is not formed within this time, then the child will find it much harder to form one at a later date
explain what is meant by ‘monotropic’
● one particular attachment is more special and intense than all the others and it is of central importance to the child’s development
● law of continuity: more consistent a child’s care, the better quality of attachment
● law of accumulated separation: effects of every separation add up so, ‘the safest dose is therefore a zero dose’
explain the ‘internal working model’
● the first (monotropic) attachment forms an internal working model of relationships
● this serves as a ‘template’ for what relationships are like and may affect their relationships towards others and their own children in the future
