bowlby's theory

Question 1

what is the continuity hypothesis?

Answer 1

type of childhood attachment type is mirrored in the future

Question 2

what is the critical period

Answer 2

a biological determined period of time of which certain characteristics develop. If this window is missed, development is not possible

Question 3

what is the internal working model?

Answer 3

a mental model of the world which enables an individual to predict or control their environment. In relation to attachment, it links to one’s expectations about relationships.

Question 4

what is monotropy?

Answer 4

the idea that the one relationship that the infant has with his or her primary caregiver/attachment figure is of special significance in relation to their emotional development.

Question 5

why do attachments form?

Answer 5

Bowlby argued that attachments formed as a survival function

• if an infant is less attached than they are less likely to be protected
• the only way our infant ancestors would not have survived if they were not close to a parent
• attachment must go both ways, a parent must protect their child for care and survival
• parents who protected and cared for the children produced offspring and etc
• attachment behaviour has evolved as it is a survival function.

Question 6

elaborate on the critical period

Answer 6

Babies have an innate drive to be attached
The critical period is defined by sensitivity according to Bowlby
He based this of the findings from Mary Ainsworth strange situation
She found that infants responded well to parents who were more attached and responsive
However, Bowlby himself changed the critical period to the sensitive period after having found that infants and children could recover any development lost from this time period
It usually happens from 3 -6 months
A biologically determined period of time where certain characteristics can develop. Outside this period such development is not possible.

Question 7

what is a social releaser?

Answer 7

a social behaviour or characteristic that elicits a response from a caregiver or leads to attachment

Question 8

name two consequences of attachment

Answer 8

Internal working model - a mental model of the world which enables individuals to predict and control their environment. In the case of attachment, this relates to a person’s expectations about relationships.
it acts as a template for all relationships
it enables an infant to gain insight into a caregivers relationship

Continuity hypothesis: The idea that early relationships with caregivers predict later relationships in adulthood. i.e emotionally secure infants go onto be emotionally secure trusting adults