Bowlby's theory

Question 1

What are social releasers?

Answer 1

babies are born with a set of innate ‘cute’ behaviours- these are social releasers activating the adult attachment system to make an adult feel love towards the baby

Question 2

What is the critical period for human infants?

Answer 2

around 2 years

Question 3

What is the sensitive period?

Answer 3

if an attachment is not formed in the critical period, the child will find it much harder to form one later -> maternal deprivation

Question 4

What did Bowlby’s theory reject and what is Bowlby’s explanation based on instead?

Answer 4

rejected learning theory- ‘cupboard love theory’
focuses more on evolution and attachment being an innate system

Question 5

Why is it known as a monotropic theory?

Answer 5

only one particular caregiver is the most important

Question 6

What does ‘mother refer to?

Answer 6

a mother figure rather than the biological mother that is the primary attachment figure, the carer
-the more time spent with this mother figure, the closer the attachment

Question 7

What are the 2 key principles of forming an attachment?

Answer 7

continuity
accumulated separation

Question 8

What is continuity?

Answer 8

constant and predictable childcare = better attachment quality

Question 9

What is accumulated separation?

Answer 9

time of separation will be added up
greater amount = poorer attachment quality

Question 10

The caregiving cycle

Answer 10

child’s development
child’s needs and behaviour -> caregiver’s thinking and feeling -> caregiving behaviour -> child’s thinking and feelings (back to the start and repeats like a cycle)

Question 11

The internal working model

Answer 11

as a child forms a mental representation of their relationship with their primary caregiver. This can affect how they perceive and form later relationships e.g.
-friendships
-romantic relationships
-when they become parents themselves
similar to Lorenz’s sexual printing with the peacock and the giant tortoises